Michael Hooper Emerges as the Dark Horse for Wallabies, Calls on Joe Schmidt to Announce Captaincy ‘Tomorrow’

Wallabies legend Michael Hooper has urged coach Joe Schmidt to keep the ‘Ice Man’ Bernard Foley in mind as preparations ramp up for the highly anticipated British and Irish Lions tour.

Schmidt is set to announce his squad for the Lions series on July 11, with a preliminary group of roughly 40 players to be revealed on Thursday in Sydney ahead of a Test match against Fiji on July 6 in Newcastle.

Last year, Schmidt fielded four fly-halves: Noah Lolesio, Ben Donaldson, Tom Lynagh, and Tane Edmed. However, experienced veterans Foley and James O’Connor remain viable options should the need arise.

At 35 years old and boasting 76 Test caps, Foley continues to earn accolades for his performance leading Kubota Spears in Japan.

He recently faced off against former All Black star Richie Mo’unga in the League One final, where Mo’unga’s Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo narrowly triumphed 18-13.

Lolesio (returning from a HIA) and Lynagh (sidelined with a broken finger) are both under injury concerns.

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“I’m hoping Noah recovers quickly from the weekend,” Hooper, who recently played for Toyota Verblitz in Japan, stated on Stan Sport’s Inside Line on Wednesday.

“We all know he’ll be in that squad, but head injuries can be tricky; it could be a short stint out or a longer recovery. Meanwhile, Bernard is doing remarkably well in Japan.”

“He has a wonderful ability to direct a team. He recently went up against Richie Mo’unga’s side in Japan. Yes, he’s a friend of mine, so perhaps I’m biased.”

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“Consider this situation: in the third Test against the Lions, with a score of 17 or 18 all, who do you want steering the ship? Do you prefer experience, or do you want someone who’s currently excelling?”

“Our current No. 10s are performing well, but are they dominating their games? We may find out during the Fiji match, or do you opt for a more seasoned hand, knowing Joe prefers experienced players?”

Former captain Will Skelton (La Rochelle) and Samu Kerevi (Urayasu D-Rocks) are also in contention, with Kerevi seen training with the Reds hopefuls in Brisbane this week.

Schmidt has opted to delay naming a captain until the week of the Test.

Reds No.8 Harry Wilson currently holds the position, but there are suggestions that Waratahs skipper Jake Gordon could step in as an unexpected replacement.

The Lions have already appointed Maro Itoje as captain on May 8, prompting Hooper, the all-time leader in captaincy for the Wallabies, to encourage Schmidt to make his decision.

“I would personally opt to announce it tomorrow,” Hooper expressed.

“Humans are social creatures, and can naming the leader early help everyone establish their roles? This seems to be the approach the Lions took with Itoje, and now they’re off to a great start.”

“How long will the Wallabies take? Will the delay have any ramifications? Ideally, I believe in having a captain available for the whole game, which complicates matters as I think Allan (Alaalatoa) is also a strong candidate.

“He brings significant power to the team, always prioritising the collective, and has returned to incredible form this year.”

However, since props usually don’t play the full 80 minutes, it would be beneficial for Taniela Tupou to provide impact from the bench behind Alaalatoa.

“That’s why being a front-rower can be challenging when it comes to captaincy,” Hooper noted.

“Some manage it exceptionally well, but it’s not easy. Harry Wilson seems to be a sensible choice…”

“That’s why back-row players generally make good captains, or locks, as they are usually closer to the referee and on the field for longer, helping them build that rapport with the ref and exert their influence on the game.”

Although he favours a quick resolution, Hooper doesn’t believe ambiguity surrounding the captaincy will disrupt the Wallabies environment.

“I know many of these players, and there’s no danger of anyone scheming to seize the captaincy. The collective aim is to win this series,” he said.

The Lions will kick off their campaign against Argentina in Dublin on Saturday (AEST) before heading to Australia to face the Force in Perth on June 28.