There are many ways to describe Blake Schoupp. Brumbies prop. Unwanted Waratahs hopeful. Shute Shield stalwart. PE teacher.
As of Sunday, two more were added to the list: Wallabies bolter and a bloke “built like a brick s—house”.
Eddie Jones certainly used some colourful language to explain what he liked about the 23-year-old loose-head prop with just five Super Rugby games to name during the head coach’s first Wallabies squad announcement press conference.
“He is built like a brick s—house isn’t he?” Jones said. “He is perfectly built to be a prop, he scrummages hard, he is hard on the ball and he is one of those guys who has come up the hard way. I feel with an opportunity we may get a bit more out of him.”
“He’s built pretty close to the ground. If he’s standing behind a picket fence, you’re not going to see much of him.”
When Waratahs prop Angus Bell went down in the opening game of the Super Rugby season against the Brumbies, Schoupp knew he was one step closer to Wallabies representation but didn’t give it much thought.
Blake Schoupp.Credit:Lachlan Lawson/Karen Watson
When told on Sunday he’d been selected for a maiden Wallabies camp later this month on the Gold Coast, Schoupp said he was blown away.
“It was definitely shock. I’ve been working pretty hard here for the last few weeks, and I was just expecting it to be another normal week,” Schoupp said. “Good times. Just looking forward to the next few weeks and then rip in.
“It’s always been a long-term goal. I definitely didn’t think it would come this quick. I definitely don’t want to look too far ahead but [a World Cup] is in the sights.
“Coming from Shute Shield, knowing what you’re going to get every week, it’s easy to be a little bit complacent but here it’s about performing every day, every session and every meeting being switched on.”
While on the Gold Coast, Schoupp should find time to catch up with his brother Aaron who plays in the NRL for the Titans.
It was only in February that Schoupp admitted to the Herald: “There were times in the last few years I was genuinely questioning if I would keep playing rugby.”
Originally from Wollongong, Schoupp moved north to Nudgee College in Brisbane on a rugby scholarship before returning to Sydney to study teaching and play colts for Randwick.
After an up-and-down start at Southern Districts, Schoupp transformed himself into one of the Shute Shield’s best loose-head props.
So, what did Schoupp think of Jones’ amusing description?
“It was pretty funny,” Schoupp said. “That’s just how he is. He’s a typical Aussie bloke and full credit to him. He has an aura about him.
“Now it’s all about parking it and putting in the work and continually trying to get better. It was cool to listen to and see.”
North of the Tweed River, Queensland Reds centre Josh Flook was also lost for words after being announced as one of six uncapped players in the 33-man squad.
The Wallabies squad head into camp on April 17. The team’s first Test is against South Africa in Pretoria on July 8.
“I was speechless,” Flook said. “I was on the phone to mum and dad and my sisters yesterday. I was stoked, over the moon. [It is] a dream come true to throw my name in that pool. Can’t wait.”
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