Hooper says revamped Ireland desperate for redemption Get ready to rumble
IRELAND fortifying their pack with their Six Nations- winning forwards means the Wallabies have to go up a gear to seal the three- Test series in Melbourne tonight.
While much has been made of the return of star playmaker Johnny Sexton, only three forwards remain in the Irish pack that lost the opening Test 18- 9 to Australia.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper said the influx of talent and experience in the five changes would present a huge challenge, with Ireland desperate for a win to force a series decider in Sydney.
Hooper added the players left out of the Brisbane match would also have a point to prove at AAMI Park.
“You’ve got a bunch of guys who want to come in and make a point,” Hooper said yesterday.
“No one likes missing out on a game ... so if I was in their shoes, you want to come out and make a difference and I’m sure all their forwards are thinking that way.”
One new face is flanker Dan Leavy, with Irish hopes he can nullify the dominance at the breakdown of Wallabies gun David Pocock.
The 24- year- old, who also has a strong running game, was a standout this season for Leinster and Ireland, and Hooper is looking forward to seeing him up close.
“Obviously, Poey ( Pocock) was outstanding at the ruck last week but early on in the game I thought the Irish were quite good over the ball,” Hooper said.
“I’ve heard a lot about him and especially his Six Nations performance. A really quality young flanker, likes to get the ball in hand and really grind.”
Improving the Wallabies’ setpiece had also been a focus, with their lineout a little shaky in game one in hooker Brandon PaengaAmosa’s Test debut.
“We weren’t happy ... we think we can get better in the scrum, and we definitely can get better in the lineout,” Hooper said.
The Wallabies are unchanged from Brisbane, the first time coach Michael Cheika has retained a squad in successive games, but Hooper believes there’s plenty of improvement in them. “I saw a heap of upsides,” he said. “I saw a lot of opportunities to run the ball; we put a lot of kicks up and that worked for us but then you look at it and if we didn’t kick, then maybe the next phase we could have got them by running or shifting the ball and changing the picture there.
“There is so much that we can get better at.”