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Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said the team had earmarked a faster start and more complete game in a bid to win a historic decider against England at the SCG.
With work on the new Sydney football stadium nearly complete next door – it will host the Wallabies next Sydney Test against South Africa next month – this could be the last time the SCG is used for a rugby international.
While that will please many rugby fans who aren’t happy with watching their game on an oval, it is a sell out and a big moment for Hooper.
Asked if the players were aware of the significance of the venue, and sense of occasion, Hooper said: “If they haven’t yet they will when they turn up here today. The stadium looks remarkable.
“The field’s in top nick, the deck actually looks really good for the amount of rain that’s been through Sydney in the last little bit. I’ve played here before for the Tahs, it’s fantastic, a sellout, there’s not a ticket left so it’s going to be a special night.”
He said it was “hugely special” to be part of what is potentially the last Test at the ground.
“I’m a Sydney boy. Very proud. I came out here watching cricket Test matches and AFL games,” said Hooper. “Been lucky enough to have played a couple of rugby games here, to play for your country against England to decide a series here, it’s up there. Really looking forward to tomorrow, we’re pumped.”
On the number of changes the team has had to deal with
The Wallabies have been smashed by injury and suspension, looking extra thin at lock and at fullback where Reece Hodge returns from Australia A duty.
“It’s been a challenge but we rotated through a lot of different combinations in the lead-up to this,” Hooper said. “We’re confident in all our players that are going to roll out. Yes, there are changes and there hasn’t been too much consistency throughout this series but we’re super pleased with where the team’s at.”
UK writer Rob Kitson joins Brett McKay and Harry Jones to reflect on Brisbane and predict what will happen in the decider. Stream it here or on your podcast app of choice
AUSTRALIA’S TEAM FOR THE THIRD TEST
On what needs to change in Sydney after Brisbane defeat
England pinned Australia back so successfully at Suncorp that the first time the Wallabies touched the ball inside the tourists’ 22 was in the 36th minute when they were already 19-0 down.
“We’ve got to get out of our end well. If we can, get an opportunity to utilise our set piece get down the other end of the field,” Hooper said.
“We’ve been able to sustain a lot of pressure, come back into the game from being behind. We want to flip that.- to come out with good momentum and stack it on and put these guys under pressure. They did a great job last week doing that to us. We’re wanting to change that route.”
On the potential debut of Suli Vunivalu
Hooper described the former NRL star as an “amazing athlete and really good guy.
“He’s fitted into the team really well, so everyone was pretty pumped to see him get an opportunity.
“He’s had a tough initiation into rugby with his injury history and hasn’t had the break that he could have had but he’s here now. He’s got an opportunity and he’s a big game player, superior athlete. Hopefully he can come on at a time and change the game around.”
On Harry Wilson’s return at No.6
Hooper said Wilson was a “a complete player”.
“Real threat in attack, he’s got good skill. He’s a tough ball carry. I’ve tackled him and he’s hard to stop,” Hooper summarised.
“In this jersey, he was great defensively in the games that he played. We’re looking for him to really lead the charge in that area (be) damaging both sides of the ball.”
On the niggle and Nic White
Wallabies No.9 White said earlier in the week he was surprised with the level of niggle coming from the English team, a suggestion that Eddie Jones found hard to cop.
“I hardly think he’s entitled to make that comment … he’s the biggest niggler of all time!” Jones said.
“That makes me laugh, that does make me laugh. The boy from Queanbeyan who niggles everyone, complaining about niggle. That’s a bit like the pot calling the kettle black.”
(Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)
Hooper defended White on Friday. Well, kind of.
“Whitey’s just obsessed with rugby. The guy’s an absolute footy nerd,” Hooper said. “He just wants to play. He’s as competitive as you’ll see. Most halfbacks are, He just wants to play rugby and he’ll be doing his usual thing tomorrow.”
Hooper was quizzed on Ellis Genge’s slaps to the Aussie skipper’s chest after England’s try last weekend.
“It’s been competitive. It’s been enjoyable. I think both teams just want to win and you’ll get the chance to see that tomorrow,” said Hooper, making it clear he had no real issue with Genge’s act of bad sportsmanship.
“I’m expecting [niggle] to be an element of tomorrow’s game but ultimately, tomorrow is all about who’s up on the scoreboard and who can do it longer. It’s been an enjoyable element, and part of the game.”
On the closeness of north and south Test teams
Four big Test series between northern and southern hemisphere nations head for deciders on Saturday and Hooper said it summed up the competitive state of the game.
“It’s been the story across the world – there are no easy games,” Hooper said. “Everyone is going to every game and it is super competitive. It’s going down to the wire. And a tipping nightmare.
“I think it’s great for rugby, great for the viewer, great for the fan. Our series has been two tussles that have kept guys on the field and probably in the stands well on the edge of their seats. I expect tomorrow to be no different.”
On if this series can be beneficial to the World Cup campaign
“It’s such a long way away,” said Hooper, although he acknowledged the team would benefit from tight battles. “It’s a great position to be in because for the squad, the guys who are in the environment, pressure games, it’s kind of like knockout, this situation. It’s good to be a part of it in terms of the learnings that we’ll get out of it.
“It’s just there to execute now, and we’ll take confidence out of it for sure in what we’ve done this week, and then leading into the game – we’re happy with our preparation.
“We’re a resilient bunch. We’ve been able to get ourselves back into both games winning the first and getting close there last week. We want a more complete game. Start better. We don’t think we’ve played as well as we can.
“We think we’re a better team than what we’ve shown so far. So that’s hugely exciting for us. Our motivation is to put that out there and show that to the crowd tomorrow. What we’ve learned about England, is they’re tough, hard, physical opponent, good at set piece, and can really grind you. They put they apply scoreboard pressure consistently throughout the game.”
On how to reach that complete game
“It’s backing where we’re at,” Hooper said. “It’s being confident with what we’ve done. It’s not going to be perfect tomorrow. The other team is going to try the exact same thing and flog you tomorrow.
“We’ve got to be confident in what our game plan is, which we are. So that’s the first thing done and then we’ve just got to go out and execute it.
“We’ve talked about the starts a hell of a lot. We haven’t done that at the start, but we’ve managed to find our groove into the game and get it humming, we’ve just got to do it for longer.”
On the officiating of games and the knock down rule
Hooper said rugby was an imperfect game, and he questioned the knock down rule, but also felt for the referees.
“There’s always sort of consistent tinkering to the rules each year and before each series,” he said.
“We came into this with some scrum change. There’s always going to be that stuff going on and these sort of Tests highlight that – whether there’s some rule changes, I guess they’ll decide on that after it. That’s our game. It’s an imperfect game. Us as a team, we just keep refining it and so does World Rugby.”
On the ‘deliberate’ knock on ruling that saw Izzy Perese yellow carded in Brisbane, Hooper said: “Yeah, when you say deliberate knock on I don’t think Izzy was trying to deliberately knock that on, he was trying to go 80 and score that try.
“You want to reward positive play. Is that seen as positive? I saw it as a positive attempt to be good for the spectator and good for the game but getting that right? I don’t know. Making it consistent is important.
“I know at that point in the game, I was pretty happy to have a break. So I got to suck in a few big, big breaths,” he joked.
“But more ball in play time? We want the game to be attractive to the viewer and fun to play as well. So, rewarding good rugby, and good big plays is important. How that’s managed (other) people know better than I do.”
He said referees would prefer to be out of the limelight but rejected the idea they should ease up to let the decider flow better.
“I’m sure the refs don’t want to be a part of the game. They want the game to play,” Hooper said.
“Speak to them and they want to want to see a fair, clean, even game and don’t want to be the headline the following morning.
“They’ve got a really tough position, they’ve got to officiate it, so it’s probably the hardest position on the field, being honest, to manage the game with the fans with the pressure that goes with it.
“Full credit to the referees for doing that under a lot of pressure. It’s a hard job. I want it to be smooth and good for the viewer. But we don’t want to be turning up on Sunday morning, and something’s been washed over because it wasn’t officiated properly.”