Michael Hooper says semi-final with Brumbies is biggest Super Rugby game of his career

WARATAHS skipper Michael Hooper says the all-Australian decider against the Brumbies is the biggest Super Rugby game of his career.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Michael Hooper of the Waratahs looks on during a Waratahs Super Rugby training session at Kippax Lake on July 24, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

THE Waratahs haven’t lost a game at home all season — a record they are determined to protect against fierce rivals the Brumbies in the most important game of their season.

But it’s a new challenge for many of them.

While the Brumbies are in their second consecutive finals campaign, the last time the Waratahs made the playoff’s was back in 2011.

Waratahs skipper Michael Hooper, who leads the side in the absence of Dave Dennis, says the all-Australian decider against his former club is the biggest Super Rugby game of his career.

“A lot of guys will be in the same situation,” he said.

“It’s got a good meaning for us, the fact that we’re a tightly knit group at the moment and you want to do it for each other rather than individually. You want to hold up the title as a group and see the end to this year as a group.

“The Brumbies have definitely been in this environment before and it’s got to count for something. We’ve got guys who haven’t been here before, but you’ve got to do it at some point if you want to be contesting for the final. We feel we deserve to be here and we’ve played really well in the last weeks.”

The Waratahs enjoyed a week off after claiming the minor premiership, which has allowed the players to iron out any minor niggles.

But Hooper admits he would have preferred to keep the momentum going.

“If you had said at the start of the year, would I want a week off at this point I would have said no, because you want to keep things going,” he said.

“But it has helped us out this week — everyone’s fit and ready to go.”

With home ground advantage, the Waratahs go into the game as clear favourites and Hooper insists the pressure is no more intense than it has been all season.

“As a Waratahs outfit you’re under pressure,” he said.

“At the start of the year everyone is saying, you’ve got a good roster and you’ve got to be able to perform. We haven’t done that (in previous years) and now finally we’re here in this situation.”

Originally published as Michael Hooper says semi-final with Brumbies is biggest Super Rugby game of his career