Michael Hooper shows true leadership over latest Wallabies embarrassment
THIS was Michael Hooper’s real leadership test, and he’s passed with flying colours, making a stand that this Wallabies team desperately needs, writes JAMIE PANDARAM.
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THIS was Michael Hooper’s real leadership test, and he’s passed with flying colours.
There has been much conjecture regarding Hooper’s suitability to captain the Wallabies, and whether he should even be in the starting side.
But the 27-year-old has made a stand that this Wallabies team desperately needs.
By all accounts, Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper did nothing more than invite Ashley-Cooper’s sister-in-law and two of her friends into their room for a catch-up over a couple of drinks before ordering room service.
There were no complaints made by the women or other hotel guests, no reports of drunken behaviour, and the three women had departed before midnight.
But earlier this year, under Hooper’s direction, players decided that no women were to be brought back to the team’s hotel rooms on tour.
Rugby Australia say the unofficial rule is “no guests”, but we know what that is code for.
And you can understand some confusion by Ashley-Cooper and Beale, given that one of the women was technically family, who are allowed to visit the team hotels.
But Hooper realised this is exactly the type of grey area situation that could lead to a dangerous precedent, and made the toughest call of his young captaincy.
Too often under previous Wallaby regimes this indiscretion would have been overlooked; too awkward, it could create friction in the ranks, they need the player in the team, it’s been a long and difficult year so let it slide.
Not Hooper.
Every move he makes is designed around one thing; winning next year’s World Cup.
As far-fetched as it sounds to the rest of us, Hooper is convinced the Wallabies can.
But to do so, no stone can be left unturned, no standards in culture can dip.
Remember, these are two of his closest allies.
Hooper won the 2014 Super Rugby premiership alongside Ashley-Cooper and Beale.
When Beale was facing the sack over the Di Patston affair later that year, Hooper and Ashley-Cooper were among his staunchest supporters.
The trio were instrumental in supporting Michael Cheika as coach when Ewen McKenzie resigned, and have stood shoulder-to-shoulder for World Cup, Bledisloe Cup and spring tour campaigns.
When Hooper became aware of the incident last week in Italy, he could have had a stern word to Beale and Ashley-Cooper, telling them not to do it again.
But that would have made it near impossible to sanction the next player who brought a woman back to the team hotel.
So Hooper and his fellow leadership team members, David Pocock, Allan Alaalatoa, Samu Kerevi and Nick Phipps, decided this could not be allowed to pass unpunished.
Hooper knew he’d be risking his friendship with Beale and Ashley-Cooper, but firmly believes the duo understand his decision because they’ve got the same World Cup dreams and belief.
“It’s extremely hard, there’s not way around it,” Hooper said of his decision.
“We’re all mates wanting to see each other do the best but the team comes first, and being genuine.
“That’s the direction we’ve got to go, these small steps to putting the team first are going to have a great outcome in the end.”
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Originally published as Michael Hooper shows true leadership over latest Wallabies embarrassment