Hooper expects to stay course
– Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has ticked “all the boxes” in terms of his return from a serious hamstring injury and reckons he can last 80 minutes against New Zealand in the Rugby Championship opener today.
Hooper has not played since suffering the injury in the Wallabies’ 2-1 series loss to Six Nations champions Ireland in June.
It was the first serious injury of the 26-year-old’s career, who often plays the entire 80 minutes for both the Wallabies and the Waratahs. He expects to be able to last the full match today.
Sydney
“I feel really ready and can’t wait for tomorrow,” he told reporters yesterday after the Wallabies’ final training run at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.
“It’s one of those things; you tick all the boxes, you get to a point. I’m sitting here today feeling great about what I can do.”
Hooper will be joined in the Wallabies’ loose forwards by the returning David Pocock at the back of the scrum and Lukhan Tui as the blindside flanker.
Coach Michael Cheika’s preference to play both Hooper and Pocock has created some issues for the Wallabies, with both being openside flankers and considered small for modern international loose forwards.
The pair, however, prove a handful at the breakdown with their ability to get over the ball and either turn it over or slow the speed of their opponents’ attack.
The inclusion of the 1.98m tall Tui, who can also play lock, will provide a valuable lineout option and bulk and aggression at the breakdown, where Hooper said he expected a battle against Kieran Read, Sam Cane and Liam Squire.
“Being able to maintain our ball and slow their ball is paramount,” said the captain. –