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Wallabies co-captain Michael Hooper is set to miss Saturday’s crucial Rugby Championship Test against Michael Cheika’s Argentina Pumas in Parramatta.
The Roar can reveal the veteran openside flanker didn’t train on Wednesday.
A downcast Hooper was one of the last of the Wallabies to arrive at training and met Nic White on the edge of the group, where the pair gave each other a big hug and spoke privately.
It’s understood Hooper suffered a minor calf injury at training on Tuesday afternoon.
Michael Hooper is set to miss the Wallabies’ Test against Argentina. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Saturday’s Test was set to be the 31-year-old’s swansong in Sydney, with Hooper farewelling the Waratahs recently.
Whether he continues playing beyond this season remains to be seen, with Hooper to make a decision on whether he has a crack at playing at next year’s Olympics, heads overseas or hangs up the boots.
The openside flanker started in his 125th Test during the Wallabies’ shocking 43-12 defeat to the Springboks last weekend.
Hooper struggled in the match, where he was bounced off three one-on-one tackles as the bigger bodies of Andre Esterhuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Duane Vermeulen targeted him first phase from lineout ball.
But the fact Jones became the fourth successive coach to appoint Hooper as captain (he is sharing the duties along with James Slipper in The Rugby Championship), reveals how highly regarded he is within the national set up.
How long Hooper is out for remains to be seen but given the Wallabies’ next Test is against the All Blacks in Melbourne on Saturday, July 29, means he will most likely be available for the two-Test Bledisloe series.
Pete Samu and Fraser McReight are the favourites to replace Michael Hooper. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
Who replaces him is not yet known, with Fraser McReight likely to be called into the matchday 23 and challenge Pete Samu to wear the prized No.7 jersey.
Jones could also go left-field by selecting a bigger back-row and play a Tom Hooper or Josh Kemeny-type figure in the No.7 jersey. Tom Hooper, who came off in the first half in Pretoria with an AC injury in his shoulder and was declared “doubtful” to play against Argentina by Jones, got through fitness tests well on Tuesday and trained on Wednesday.
Michael Hooper’s injury could also tip the scales for a six forwards, two backs split and open up the possibility of a Dylan Pietsch-type player, who can cover the wing and back-row, to make his debut.
But the match shapes as the perfect opportunity to play McReight, who was one of Australia’s best in Super Rugby, in the Test against a big Los Pumas pack.
His absence also opens the door for someone to grab hold of the No.7 jersey.
With the versatile Samu a certainty for the World Cup, Jones was always likely to face a selection conundrum at some point given how difficult it is to carry two specialist openside flankers.
Jones will name his matchday team on Thursday.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.