On any other day, it would have been a standard training run for Michael Hooper: hard carries, hard shoulders, high pace everything and a motor that could have run for another hour or three.
But in his first full Wallabies session back since departing the team abruptly in early August, Hooper’s return at Daceyville yielded the unusual vibes of relief and confidence as well.
In a first and only training session before the Wallabies flew out for their five-game tour of Europe and the UK on Wednesday afternoon, all eyes were on Hooper as he got back into action after a 75-day break. While on tour as captain of the Wallabies in Argentina, Hooper withdrew from the first Test team and flew home from Mendoza, saying he wasn’t in the “right mindset” to lead the team.
Hooper sat out the entire Rugby Championship but after resuming training in state-based Wallabies squads recently, the 30-year-old was selected for the Spring Tour, albeit not as captain after a mutual decision was made with coach Dave Rennie.
After gathering in Sydney on Tuesday night, the Wallabies squad trained at the Waratahs’ headquarters on Wednesday and any concerns about Hooper quickly faded.
It was so typically Hooper, captain James Slipper emerged convinced the flanker will be straight back in the mix for selection when the Wallabies play the first Test of the tour against Scotland on Sunday week in Edinburgh.
Michael Hooper during an Australia Wallabies training session at at NSW Rugby HQ .Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
“He is moving in the right direction. He wouldn’t put himself up for selection if he didn’t feel like he was ready to contribute and perform,” Slipper said.
“Speaking to Hoops, he’s happy. He is obviously still working on things, behind closed doors and that’s natural and a lot of us are doing that as well.
“He will be picked on merit. Knowing Hoops well, he wants to fight for his position. He doesn’t want to roll up and just be picked in the team, and on the training paddock, you have already seen it today, he will get stuck in. He is just a competitor naturally, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he is in and around that team in the first game.”
Back in action … Michael Hooper supports in attack.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Without the factor of captaincy involved, there is a high likelihood Rennie will look to re-introduce Hooper to the Wallabies for a 122nd Test via the bench when the time comes. It would be only his seventh Test as a non-starter.
Pete Samu’s outstanding form in the No.7 will give him deserved incumbency, but a vacancy could emerge given Rob Leota’s absence, and a middle-row re-shuffle in the wake of Matt Philip’s injury.
But whatever the position, or week, it comes, Slipper said the Wallabies will be buoyed simply by having the veteran back on the team bus.
“It is just great to see him back,” Slipper said.
“He has definitely been missed, he is one of our most experienced players. The most capped Wallaby captain. So that sort of leadership and experience, being taken out of the team throughout the year, it was tough and it was a bit of a shock to most of the players. That’s what makes it so great to see him back.”
Hooper returned to Wallabies training in familiar fashion.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone
Slipper said he was happy to serve as captain for as long as required, and said the goal of the Wallabies on the five-Test tour was to play with some sorely needed consistency and to build momentum into a World Cup year.
That’s easier said than done given the Wallabies have been highly inconsistent this year, and face a tough fixture list of Scotland, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales over the next five weeks. Now ranked No.9 in the world, the Wallabies only outrank Italy and will be outsiders against the other four.
“We want to go over with the expectation to win, as well. We are not going over there to come second. It is all about going out there and doing it. It is no use to me standing here talking about what I want to do. It is about going over there and doing it,” Slipper said.
“You kind of want that momentum heading into a World Cup, and for us it is a great opportunity for us to start that momentum now.”
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