MICHAEL HOOPER’S ‘OLD GIRL’ is flying back to Australia with a crystal cut-glass rugby ball that will make a nice nice mantlepiece feature for many a year.
The Wallaby flanker, who was named man-of-the-match on Saturday, made his international debut in less than auspicious circumstances [sub for a 9-6 home defeat to Scotland]. He forced his way into the reckoning for the 2012 Rugby Championship. Twelve of Hooper’s 26 caps have been against New Zealand, South Africa and the Lions so it is no surprise that he has not experienced three Test match wins in a row.
Australia were on an ‘upward curve’ declared Ireland coach Joe Schmidt before witnessing his side lose 32-15 on Saturday. The rise continues and the Wallabies, despite suspending six of their own, are targeting three-in-a-row against Scotland this weekend.
“It has been a tough year,” Hooper admitted. “There’s been a lot of pressure on with the Lions series and then carrying on into the Rugby Championship. We struggled there, with not many wins. This is our first back-to-back wins of the season. It’s great for us and we want three-in-a-row now.”
He added: “Rugby is [a roller coaster]. You’ve got amazing highs and lows. You win one week and then you lose the next.You’re travelling around a lot, so it’s a tough situation. But it’s the great thing about rugby, you’ve got these great challenges in different countries.”
Hooper scored his first and second international tries at the weekend but took more credit from the second [a rolling maul] than his first, which came courtesy of a super Scott Fardy offload. His coach, Ewen McKenzie, stated that Australia had done their homework on the Irish pack. Hooper backed up those comments.
We knew it was going to be won up front, so we put a lot of emphasis on that. The Irish forwards, like Sean O’Brien and Rory Best, are very good at slowing the ball down, so we had a major emphasis on being able to generate quick ball through our carries. I think that benefited us a lot.”
Hooper gets his man-of-the-match award from Rory Sheridan. INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Hooper and McKenzie will hope to return home in early December on a four-game winning streak. If they continue to ride the curve upwards, the challenge is to topple New Zealand. The Aussies are winless against the world champions for over two years.
“We get to play against them a lot,” Hooper said, ”which is a luxury thing down there. I’d like to play them as much as we could, you want to knock off the best teams. They’re clinical, they get into your 22 and usually get some points. Their finishing is incredible, every little opportunity they get is taken. That’s what other teams are not capable of doing to the same level as they are. If you can get them off your game, which is tough to do.
We were growing when we played them earlier in the year, they beat us in two games straight up. That’s our goal, we want to take these guys down. These games [November tests] are great for practising and getting our systems in place. Everyone wants to be number one.”
Next up for New Zealand are Ireland at Lansdowne Road. If we beat them, for the first time in 28 attempts, we must be sure to contact Hooper with some tips.
That’s a pretty misleading headline in fairness. You’ve taken him out of context there
I don’t think ‘These games are great for practicing’ is taking anything out of context.
It looks like a poor attempt to paint the bloke in a negative, unsporting light.
I’d have to disagree there. A small change turns an innocuous comment about the nature of the autumn series into a dig at Ireland, as if he considered the match as nothing more strenuous than a warm-up with a practice squad. Needless sensationalism, in my own humble opinion.
Yeah, bad headline
The headline says “Ireland were great for practicing against, declares hooper”
What he actually said was “these games are great for practising and getting systems in place”
He made no specific reference to Ireland as opposed to any other team they play this autumn, but from reading the headline you would think he was disrespecting Ireland.
In fairness Patrick your usually fair enough but I think your off the mark this time.
The headline says “Ireland were great for practicing against, declares hooper”
What he actually said was “these games are great for practising and getting systems in place”
He made no specific reference to Ireland as opposed to any other team they play this autumn, but from reading the headline you would think he was disrespecting Ireland.
In fairness Patrick your usually fair enough but I think your off the mark this time.
I agree it is misleading…looking to stir something up…
Totally agree. The headline says something totally different to what the article reports. Headline suggests they totally disrespected Ireland which couldn’t be further from the truth judging by his full comment.
Incorrect Patrick, there’s quite a bit of difference between the two statements and the headline suggests a personal lack of sportsmanship directed specifically at Ireland.
The Journal, sharp in it’s early incarnation, has become increasingly sloppy with headlines and content over the last while and is no longer first port of call here for news or sport.
Another misleading headline
He did not mention ireland at all.
my granny would walk through that irish defence
She must be quick
Your headline is f@#kin joke. Typical. This site is gone to hell!
Has thejournal got a new editor recently? The headlines lately are ridiculous.
I’m really starting to get annoyed with the sensational tabloid headlines
Headline completely out of context. Trying to justify it is even worse.
Cheers for the comments and feedback. We have changed the headline to reflect Hooper’s drive to win three Tests in a row, for the first time, with the green & golds.
Cowboy
This site is getting worse by the day. Sad effort of a headline in fairness. No need for it.
Lmao…He just telling the truth…
It’s common sense what he’s saying
The score/the Sun
The Score is quickly slipping into Tabloid territory, come on lads, clean it up!
He’s right In a way! You could practice anything you like against that irish team?