Skipper Hooper issues a call to arms

– Australia must reproduce the form that saw them roar back to beat Argentina in their last match if they hope to beat New Zealand in Japan this weekend, captain Michael Hooper (right) said yesterday.

The Wallabies overturned a 24-point halftime deficit to stun the Pumas 45-34 earlier this month to ease the pressure on under-fire coach Michael Cheika.

But while the All Blacks will be chasing a 3-0 Bledisloe Cup whitewash in today’s clash in Yokohama, Hooper insisted there was more than pride at stake.

“There’s always heaps of motivation playing for your country,” he told reporters.

“It’s a shame we’re not playing for any silverware but every Test is massive for us,” added Hooper.

“We are out here to build as a team. We get the opportunity to play the No 1 team in the world -we’re competitive blokes so you want to be in these situations and be out there when the lights are on.”

New Zealand won the first two Bledisloe matches 38-13 and 40-12 in August while Australia’s form nosedived, the Wallabies winning just six of eight games before their astonishing comeback against Argentina.

Hooper agreed Australia need-

Tokyo

ed to bottle the essence of that swashbuckling second-half display in Salta before November Tests away to Wales, Italy and England.

“It really was a polarising performance from one half to another,” said the flanker.

“It is a reference point for us – reproducing the consistency of that game-play is paramount for us, it’s as simple as that,” shrugged Hooper.

“We need to defend better for longer and attack better for longer. In both (Bledisloe) games we put in a lot of good minutes. But that’s obviously not going to be enough.”

New Zealand captain Kieran Read also referenced Australia’s last outing on the eve of their showdown in Japan.

“The second half of their last game is the kind of rugby you dream about, so we know the threat they pose,” said Read, who turned 33 yesterday.

“It’s going to be a tough battle,” he said. –