Oops – sorry, says Hooper

Cardiff – Australia skipper Michael Hooper (above) admits to ruing twice spurning kickable penalties to go for attacking lineouts, as under-fire coach Michael Cheika sought out the positives after the team’s narrow 9-6 defeat by Wales.

A tough encounter in Cardiff on Saturday saw the Wallabies suffer their eighth loss of the year.

Flyhalf Bernard Foley was twice ordered to kick for touch in place of going for the posts early in the second half, with the game delicately poised at 3-3.

Instead of garnering a try from the attacking line-outs, the Australians came away with nothing after a knock-on and an overthrow respectively.

“If I had my time again I’d have gone for the shot, yes,” said Hooper after his first loss to the Welsh in 10 appearances, a run that coincided with Wales’ 13-match losing streak over 10 years to Australia.

“I backed our guys to get the try and keep the foot on. Probably my reading of the game was amiss... I should have gone for goal.”

Cheika has enjoyed an indifferent season as coach of the Wallabies, who won just two of their six Rugby Championship matches and, with just three wins from 11 Tests this season, have their lowest win percentage since 1974.

“Our defence was excellent and our energy and effort around the game really good,” Cheika said.

“But we released the build-up of pressure we had from our defence by either infringing or losing ball in the line-out.”

Wales and Australia have been drawn in the same pool in next year’s Rugby World Cup but Hooper was upbeat, saying: “There’s plenty to play for us, 14 games out from a final.”

Australia play Italy on Saturday.