Home Rugby Michael Hooper: Australia depart co-captain out of World Cup squad

Michael Hooper: Australia depart co-captain out of World Cup squad

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Michael Hooper: Australia depart co-captain out of World Cup squad

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Eddie Jones with Michael Hooper during a news conference
Eddie Jones (left) made Michael Hooper one among Australia’s co-captains when he returned as head coach

Flanker Michael Hooper and fly-half Quade Cooper have been neglected of Australia’s World Cup squad by coach Eddie Jones.

Hooper, who has captained the Wallabies for the most effective a part of the final decade, and 80-cap fly-half Cooper had been the headline omissions within the 33-man squad.

Lock Will Skelton and scrum-half Tate McDermott have been named as co-captains for the match.

Australia face Wales, Fiji, Georgia and Portugal of their World Cup pool.

Hooper, who has performed 125 instances for Australia since 2012, was named co-captain of the Wallabies with James Slipper for the Rugby Championship earlier this yr however solely performed within the opening loss to South Africa earlier than being sidelined by a calf damage.

Cooper, 35, had been anticipated to be Australia’s beginning fly-half in France after recovering from a ruptured Achilles to return to the squad.

Carter Gordon, who performed his first Take a look at final month, will now journey to France as Australia’s sole specialist quantity 10 with Ben Donaldson, who has performed two internationals, backing up as a utility participant.

There was additionally a shock within the captaincy with France-based lock Skelton taking the function in partnership with McDermott, who led the facet for the primary time towards New Zealand final week.

Uncapped teenager Max Jorgensen was additionally named within the squad as an outdoor again regardless of having performed solely a handful of Tremendous Rugby matches earlier than his season was reduce quick by a knee damage sustained in late Might.

Combating speak

Australia are languishing in eighth place on the earth rankings and have but to win a Take a look at in 4 makes an attempt because the return of Jones as coach in January rather than Dave Rennie.

Jones stays bullish and his 33-man squad has a median age of 26 with a median of 20 Take a look at caps per participant.

That’s the lowest at a World Cup for Australia because the 1991 match which the Wallabies gained.

“The consultants have written us off. No-one believes we are able to do it, however we imagine,” stated Jones.

“I’ve backed the younger blokes as a result of they earned it. Easy as that. I have not handed it to them. They grabbed it.

“It is thrilling for me to go to work every day with these guys who’re simply busting to enhance, to be taught and to get higher.

“The group that improves probably the most is mostly the group that can win it and that is the duty we have now set ourselves.

“We’ve got been bettering and we are going to proceed to enhance.”

Australia squad for the 2023 World Cup

Forwards: James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Pone Fa’amausili, Zane Nonggorr, Blake Schoupp, Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Matt Faessler, Jordan Uelese, Richie Arnold, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Matt Philip, Fraser McReight, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Rob Leota, Langi Gleeson.

Backs: Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Tate McDermott, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Ben Donaldson, Lalakai Foketi, Izaia Perese, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Marika Koroibete, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Suliasi Vunivalu, Josh Kemeny.

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