Pocock backs Hoops when pressure is on

DAVID Pocock has defended Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper over his decisionmaking following Australia’s bumbling 9-6 loss to Wales.

Hooper conceded he mistakenly went for tries twice instead of taking easy shots for penalty goals.

“I’ll back Hoops’ calls every day, and then I guess you review them after the game,” Pocock said.

“In the moment that’s what he wanted to do and I’ll back that for sure.”

Hooper turned down two easily kickable penalties early in the second half but the Wallabies botched both attempts at a try as Wales won a tryless match at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, ending a 13-match losing streak to Australia stretching back to 2009.

“If I had my time again I would have gone for the shot,” Hooper said. “I backed our guys and backed the want to get the try and keep the foot on, but probably my reading of the game there was amiss.

“It was going to come down to penalties in the end. Hind- sight’s obviously a nice factor but I should have gone for goal.”

In the 51st minute, with the scores locked at 3-all, Hooper went to the corner instead of taking a penalty goal, but his side fumbled the ball from the lineout drive.

Three minutes later, after initially pointing to the posts, Hooper changed his mind and turned down another shot from 25m out. Australia lost the lineout after Tolu Latu overthrew the ball and was suddenly defending its own quarter when Wales kicked downfield and won a turnover.

It was crucial to the final result.

The Wallabies have lost any psychological advantage over Wales ahead of their World Cup showdown next year.