Rugby World Cup: Wallabies drop Michael Hooper, new captain to lead squad

Michael Hooper is a high-profile victim of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones’ pivot to youth for the 10th Rugby World Cup.

Tate McDermott will be chosen as one of Australia’s captains for the 10th Rugby World Cup after the Wallabies selectors left out long-time leader Michael Hooper and put their faith in youth over experience in picking their squad for France.

Australia’s 33-man squad for the World Cup will be officially unveiled on Thursday night but it’s understood the selectors have drawn a line in the sand and leaned strongly towards emerging players they believe can end the team’s long run of losses and lay the foundations for a brighter future.

Some of the older heads made the cut – but some established names will also be left out – after head coach Eddie Jones decided to take the only sensible option he could and reward current form over past deeds.

The highest-profile casualty is Hooper, Australia’s most capped skipper, who has been struggling with a calf injury this season.

Brought back at short notice, Jones has no time left to waste on trying to squeeze more out of senior players who have been around for years and won virtually nothing – so he wants to pour his energy into developing stars of the future.

It is a bold but necessary approach and Jones should be applauded for taking a gamble on young leaders like McDermott, the livewire Queensland halfback who was left out of the initial training squad earlier in the season.

(L-R) New Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and skipper Tate McDermott. Picture: Getty Images

Just 24, McDermott listened closely to what Jones told him he needed to work on and has not only lifted his own game but also had a positive influence on the other younger players around him.

A surprise appointment as captain for last week’s Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand, McDermott made a huge impression on the people that matter after almost steering the Wallabies to a shock victory, with Jones declaring he wanted him to lead “a new era.”

Hooper and James Slipper had been named as co-captains at the start of the rugby championship, but both have been battling injuries and younger rivals for their spots. Slipper will be named in the squad.

One of rugby’s shrewdest coaches, Jones has kept his cards close to his chest this season, chopping and changing his line-ups in search of the best combination for the World Cup, but has always had his eyes on the prize.

After seeing for himself that generational change is the only way to save the Wallabies, he’s made a clear diversion towards a more youthful approach.

Although the Wallabies are yet to win any of their first four Tests under Jones, the inclusion of McDermott, five-eighth Carter Gordon, wing Mark Nawaqanitawase, loose forward Tom Hooper and prop Angus Bell has shown the team’s long-suffering supporters that there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel.

Michael Hooper first captained the Wallabies in 2014. Picture: AAP Image

With the benefit of a favourable draw, the Wallabies have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals in France but Jones also wants to start building for the 2027 World Cup, being hosted in Australia.

With one eye on 2027, it’s expected around half of the players he picks for France will be aged 25 or under.

However, no selection process is ever crystal clear and this one is no different because a handful of players are carrying injuries, so it’s expected that any fringe players that miss out could still end up in Europe with Australia A and playing club rugby and remain on standby if spots open up.

The Wallabies have a final warm-up match against France in Paris on August 27 before their opening World Cup match against Georgia on September 9.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Wallabies drop Michael Hooper, new captain to lead squad