Captain Michael Hooper wants his wounded Wallabies to emulate New Zealand’s ability to improve dramatically in one week, as well as matching the All Blacks’ legendary consistency.
Australia had their eight-match unbeaten streak and hopes of a first Bledisloe Cup series win in 12 years wrecked in Auckland last Saturday, when they were crushed 51-20 at Eden Park.
The teams had drawn 12-12 in Sydney seven days earlier, but the Eden Park massacre extended their winless streak against their old rivals to 10 matches and three years.
In Sydney, three days later, Hooper picked up a second straight NSW Waratahs players’ player of the year award, but still hadn’t been able to bring himself to watch any of the match in Auckland.
“It’s going to be tough to watch, but we weren’t up to the mark,” Hooper said.
“We saw what the Kiwis can do in one week and we want to be part of that.
“We want to be able to improve like that in one week.
“They are the most consistent team in the world and we’re chasing to be like that.”
Hooper said Australia were still in the process of building established combinations like the All Blacks had in halves Aaron Smith and Aaron Cruden and back-rowers Kieran Read and Richie McCaw.
“We’re trying to build that and it takes time, but we’re in a good space,” Hooper said.
“It was hard to take the other night because we draw (the first game) and then we go back to where we were the weekend just been and it sucks.”
He expected some plain speaking among the Wallabies when they reassembled on Sunday before the next Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Perth the following Saturday.
“There’s going to be some honest chats next week,” Hooper said.
Hooper’s latest award continued a golden run of individual accolades over the past three seasons.
But he emphasised Saturday’s drubbing wasn’t the first setback in a career that had already delivered 33 Test caps, a Super Rugby title and captaincy of his state and country, all by the age of 22.
“I’ve had a lot of negative experiences in my footy career,” Hooper said.
“(At) The Brumbies, we had the Real Madrid team in 2010-11, and we sucked, so it’s hard to put your finger on what works.”
As the bright new face and leader of the Wallabies, Hooper doesn’t feel any personal pressure for turning around Australia’s rugby fortunes.
“I don’t take it on as pressure on my shoulders. I take it on as a group acceptance that Australian rugby has been successful (in the past), so why can’t we?” Hooper said.
