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Axed Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper says he went through a \u201cgrieving period\u201d after being left out of the Rugby World Cup squad, but is continuing to train in case he is called up by Eddie Jones due to an injury.<\/p>\n
Hooper also said he respected Jones for making \u201cbig calls\u201d around backing youth in the Wallabies squad over experienced players and confirmed this masthead\u2019s report he is close to signing a new contract to play sevens for Australia next year.<\/p>\n
Hooper spoke for the first time about his shock omission after being announced as a new member of the Stan Sport commentary team for the Rugby World Cup. The 125-Test flanker will provide expert comments as a panel member back in the Sydney studio.<\/p>\n
Hooper was controversially left out of Jones\u2019 33-man squad just six weeks after being appointed co-captain with James Slipper. Hooper started at No.7 for the Wallabies against the Springboks but picked up a calf injury ahead of the Argentina clash in Sydney a week later, and after \u201cre-tweaking\u201d the calf ahead of the Bledisloe Cup games, played no further part in the Wallabies\u2019 Rugby Championship campaign.<\/p>\n
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Michael Hooper has joined the Stan commentary team for the Rugby World Cup.<\/span><\/p>\n Jones explained Hooper\u2019s omission as being injury-related, but has since spoken about deliberately discarding senior Wallabies with a lack of success in favour of selecting an inexperienced World Cup squad with no scars from the past.<\/p>\n Asked about how he felt to be left out, Hooper said: \u201cOf course I was disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is my final year of my contract, really had been a bit of a pinnacle of where my career would be, and finishing up on that note. But hey, like, I\u2019ve been on the right side of the stick a lot with selection and being involved in teams, and it wasn\u2019t to be this time,\u201d Hooper said on WSFM on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had the whole grieving period, you know, and coming out the other side, and now it\u2019s turning into excitement to watch it all kick-off and trying to stay fit secretly. So, you know, if there\u2019s a chance, I might be there.\u201d<\/p>\n Hooper told Wide World of Sports <\/em>there was \u201cambiguity\u201d around his injury and when he would be fit to take the field, after re-injuring his calf.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t as clean, probably, as some injuries are. Usually with an injury, you can push through the pain a bit. What I learned with this is not a type of push-through-pain situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo in terms of timing, in terms of selection, all those things – my only regret will be not being ready if I\u2019m called upon. So, I\u2019m pretty much there now.\u201d<\/p>\n Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones flanked by former co-captains James Slipper and Michael Hooper.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty<\/cite><\/p>\n Asked about Jones\u2019 confusing selection tactics of using experienced Wallabies early on, but then overlooking many for the Rugby World Cup squad, Hooper told WWOS: \u201cYeah, it\u2019s an interesting one, right? Like, you won\u2019t know what it\u2019s like until after the fact. Hindsight\u2019s beautiful in that sense.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now there has been significant changes, but he\u2019s got a plan and he\u2019s executing that plan. I respect that he\u2019s going after those decisions and making some big calls, you know, that\u2019s his job in there as coach. He\u2019s putting together a team to do what he wants to do and wants to see that happen. So that\u2019s got to be supported by all Wallabies.\u201d<\/p>\n Hooper confirmed this masthead\u2019s report he is also set to sign a new contract with Rugby Australia to play for the Australian sevens team, and chase selection for the Olympic Games next year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe idea of an Olympics is just really a new challenge and exciting challenge,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo that certainly turned up the volume a bit. And aside from this calf, this season, I felt really fit, really healthy through my Waratahs season this year. [My] body felt really good.<\/p>\n \u201cSo the nervousness around sevens is usually, \u2018What type of load does that take?\u2019 But I think that from my understanding, the physical load in terms of contact is going to go down. Certainly the running and the repeat speed stuff will increase, and I\u2019m OK with that. I don\u2019t mind that sort of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch all the action from <\/b>Rugby World Cup 2023<\/b> on the Home of Rugby, <\/b>Stan Sport<\/b>. Every match ad-free, live and on demand in 4K UHD from September 9.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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