Michael Hooper reckons that, encircled by 80,000 people, Twickenham’s going to feel a lonely place for him and his Wallabies team – and he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Australia’s captain is adamant England aren’t the most difficult opponents he’s had to face in his distinguished international career – “we play the Kiwis three times a year,” he shrugs – but the cold fact is that his record against them is his worst against any country.
In 11 matches against England stretching back nine years, he’s come off best just twice. That’s a win percentage of 18.18% – even more dismal than his record against the All Blacks.
Yet Hooper is adamant that “every opportunity is a new opportunity” and he’s dismissive of England coach Eddie Jones’ suggestion on Thursday that Australians have an “inferiority complex” when it comes to sporting contests against the “mother country”.
“Our country started as convicts being sent down there, so we have always looked up and looked at England as the mother country,” Jones said.
“I remember as a kid, we’d stand around for the anthem and it was God Save the Queen. We were the smaller country of England – so when we played them in sport, it was an opportunity to prove we were not.
“We have bit of an inferiority complex against the English, the Australians, so they’ll want to take us to where they want to.
“This is a game where Australians don’t go away. This is the game they want to win.
“It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Olympics, Test cricket, rugby league … this is the game that defines their season.
“Just because the game’s gone professional, don’t assume those long-term rivalries have lessened in importance. We’re all taught now to be perfectly socially acceptable in the way we talk. If we mention something a little bit untoward you get hammered, don’t you? But it does still matter. We understand they won’t go away.”
Hooper was dismissive of Jones’ latest mind games.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
“I can’t speak for Eddie, I can’t speak for our guys – but I don’t feel that way,” Hooper said.
He’s confident his side can upset the odds – but only if they can raise their level from last week’s underwhelming loss to the Scots at Murrayfield.
Asked how much better his patched-up Wallabies are going to have to be to earn their first win over England in the Jones era after seven straight defeats, Hooper said: “We’re going to need to be right at our best.
“What an occasion it’s going to be. England’s win against the Tongans last week was a glimpse of what it’s going to be like. A lot of our guys haven’t played up here and last week was the biggest crowd for some to face, and a vocal crowd as well.
“This week’s going to be a level up from last week. For the 15 of us out there and the finishers, it just feels like it’s going to be pretty lonely in there – and that’s a great place to be.
“We want to lay down a performance that we’re really proud of and our fans are proud of as well.
“It’s going to take some doing to win tomorrow, there’s no question, but these are the games you dream to be a part of as a young bloke, so we’re pretty excited.”
Pondering why the Wallabies’ record has been so poor against Jones’ England, Hooper said: “I can’t give you an answer – the team changes every year and though our record hasn’t been great, every opportunity is a new opportunity and a new game.
“The ledger’s square tomorrow when we run out.”
It’s a long time since Hooper tasted victory over the English but his two victories did both come at Twickenham – back in 2012 and, even more satisfyingly, in the 2015 World Cup.
“It really feels like a long time ago, so I won’t reflect on them much at all, just like the history on the other (losing) side of the coin. It’s a new game tomorrow.”
He’s particularly excited for potential Wallaby debutant, prop Ollie Hoskins, who’s been plucked from English club rugby because of the injury problems in the pack and is set to make an unexpected debut off the bench.
“What a great story,” he said. “In terms of how much it means to someone like that and for all of the rest of us reflecting on that, it’s really cool.”
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Chufo you can still easily go off the grid, my mate’s doing it now, lives in a 1 man tent hidden off a bush track at the end of a city train line. Shows up at my joint for a beer and feed now and again but he has no phone or anything.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Jones is entertaining.. i had a laugh when he said the convict line.. and i guess yre right that bc hes an aussie it doesnt matter
Rob9
Roar Guru
I think what Eddie might like and what he wouldn’t like in response to his ‘casts’ won’t matter one iota to in terms of the result of the game. I think his comments would prompt an eyebrow raise and a chuckle amongst the 23 that matter, and a ‘what planet are you operating on’ from the rest of us. If he really were the master of mind warfare he would have coached a lot more wins than he has.
Why?
Guest
Why? No point. The continual watching of Australian sporting failure in action is bad enough and the commentary even worse!
Double Agent
Guest
Just record it and watch it at your leisure. I'm surprised the number of people on the Roar still watching their 1972 AWA television.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
On a side note… The Tasman Marko’s defeated Hawks Bay to make the NPC Final! Fins up Tasman, let’s make it 3 Titles in a row. :happy:
Lozza
Guest
Might give it a miss too. No one gives Australia a chance in this game. No point getting up at that time to watch another loss and zero point watching the replay of a loss. One thing Roar has helped with is to tune out of rugby!
Double Agent
Guest
I gather you think what Jones said is offensive? Needs a rebuke? What has happened to the world? Why is everyone so precious these days? :angry:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I agree FN… He might as will follow politics :silly:
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
I dont think its entirely mind games, Eddie Jones is worried about his position second last in the six nations in combination with controversies about his bullying style with staff and then his media comments drawing him into trouble. I think he feels now he really needs a win against the Wallabies to sure up his position and worried they will be more motivated to beat England over other teams and make him look bad. I thought he said being half japanese he was made to feel different growing up, but now apparently he is identifying with convict heritage, along with all the polynesian players in the Australian team. At least he hasn't started planting bugs like Steve Hansen did and blaming it on the Wallabies.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
DA… I think that he wants to be the new French Ambassador to Australia, Help us all as the current one is bad enough. :shocked:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:laughing: :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Chufortah… You need to learn your history, the Dutch first landed in Australia just like New Zealand. Abel Tasman was the Navigator, and Captain Cook arrived later.
Chris
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately Australia can't escape its history, most white Australians I would say maybe well over 3/4 of Australians have English or British ancestory apart from migrants from other parts of Europe, Asia and Africa which is only a tiny number. I think Jones is being at his usual offensive best and mischievous which he can't seem to resist all the time. Australians know their history and certainly don't need a history lesson from Jones, all this nonsense was totally unnecessary to bring up its only a game of rugby after all. I think the Rugby Union should rebuke him for saying stuff like this just like what he said about the young tennis player, his attempts at mind games, jokes or humor are highly offensive all the time. I guess he can get away with saying stuff like this because he's Australian, imagine if he was English and saying stuff like this and behaving how he does all the time. Now back to the game. I would love it if Australia was to win being an Aussie based in the UK but I'm afraid that's wishful thinking than reality at the moment me thinks, this English side will bring higher physicality and intensity in everything than what the Wallabies faced last week against the Scots, they also have a very skillful backline with lots of pace and will score tries at every opportunity. The English Premiership now is played like super rugby in terms of style, skilset and pace but with that much higher Northern Hemisphere physicality, so this boys can play and it could be a cricket scoreline if the Wallabies are not at the races. So it's gonna be tough for the Wallabies but I'm rooting for them and I've got a ticket for the game lucky me
JC
Roar Rookie
But they were locked down again in Qld just for three or four cases. I appreciate protocols are different in the UK but something is going on. I just hope I’m wrong and squad safety isn’t being put at risk for the sake of maintaining good relations with the RFU.
Double Agent
Guest
Agree.
AndyS
Guest
They kept them under lock and key because they weren't vaxxed. They all got their second jabs in Perth on the 26th August, then would have needed a couple of weeks to reach full resistance.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
I haven’t displayed any ‘attitude to the most wonderful culture on earth.’ I’m just puzzled why you don’t seem to have pursued ‘your dream.’ It’s a relatively straightforward one to achieve, which is a great position to be in. Mine’s to win the lottery…
Double Agent
Guest
"I would happily live in a tribe and subsistence – that would be my dream" No one's stopping you!! :laughing:
Double Agent
Guest
It was a Dutchman.