‘Make Hoops proud’: How courage of absent captain inspired the Wallabies

Never one to waste words, James Slipper gave the Wallabies three things to aim for as they prepared to leave the sheds in Mendoza and take on Argentina.

The duty of giving the captain’s address had only been handed to Slipper a bit over a day earlier, when Michael Hooper had stood up at a meeting and told his team he wasn’t in the right headspace to lead them.

Now, here in the rooms, the game was upon them and the emotional weight of Hooper’s absence was heavy.

“I just said to the boys before we ran out, I would like us to put in a performance where we make our fans proud, make our teammates proud and, most of all, to make Hoops proud,” Slipper said.

“So I was just really ecstatic we got the result but mainly because of Hoops, and what he has done for this team and what he means to us as blokes.”

Courage was a word that swirled around the Wallabies camp on Friday and Saturday, and though there were varied reasons, it’s also fair to say they all ended up linked.

Australia’s captain, James Slipper, takes receipt of the Puma trophy after Australia’s win in Mendoza.Credit: Getty

After absorbing Slipper’s words, the Wallabies showed great courage in coming from behind against a physical Argentina team to win 41-26.

Trailing and with Quade Cooper having limped off, there was definitely a believable version of history where all the setbacks got too much for the Wallabies and they capitulated. But with strong bench impact, the Wallabies hung tough and, whats more, got more clinical to score late tries and win.

Wallabies legend Tim Horan rates Argentina as one of the hardest places in the world to win, and he said the second half was the best he’d seen in five years.

“It was a hell of a second half. Losing Dave Porecki and losing Hoops earlier in the week, it shows the character of the group,” coach Dave Rennie said.

The Wallabies celebrate a much-needed win in Mendoza.Credit: Getty

“I guess that highlights the respect we have for Hoops as well. We talked a lot about him over the last 24 hours. How do you honour a man who has emptied the tank every Test for the last decade? And they responded with a performance like that.”

The significance of the Wallabies’ win will fade in time, though, until it is just a stat on wikipedia and ‘remember when’ story among teammates.

The courage that will last, believes Slipper, will be the actions of Hooper on Thursday night, when he stuck his hand up and admitted he wasn’t feeling strong.

“My immediate reaction was just pure sadness for the bloke,” Slipper said.

‘My immediate reaction was just pure sadness for the bloke.’

James Slipper on Michael Hooper

“For someone who has been the face of the Wallabies for the last ten years, and plays the way he does, 80 minutes, body on the line, week-in, week-out, and has this real strong mental toughness, for him to put his hand up and say he wasn’t right, I was just gutted for him. My story, it took me right back there to be honest. Just seeing how vulnerable he was.”

Though in a high-profile position, Hooper is a private individual who avoids headlines and politely sidesteps media interest in his life. He was undoubtedly aware his withdrawal from the Wallabies would be a big story, and invite public judgement about his character.

Michael Hooper leads the Wallabies on to the SCG.Credit: Getty

“But at the end of the day, he put the team first once again,” Slipper said. “To be honest, I didn’t do what he did. He stood up and reached out. I have so much respect for the bloke. We just him to get right, get him home. If anyone deserves a break, it’s that bloke.”

Slipper stresses he doesn’t know how Hooper is feeling, but he knows the rough ballpark, having also taken a break from rugby in 2018 to deal with mental health issues. Slipper initially sought refuge in drink and drugs and was suspended as a result.

“It is important to note every situation is different, and everyone’s path is different,” Slipper said. “But with my journey, I definitely came out at the other end of the tunnel and come out a better person. And also a stronger person.”

Pumas coach Michael Cheika also offered his support to Hooper, a man he deeply admires.

“He is a very good friend of mine and I just hope he is ok,” Cheika said. “I just want him to be the best he can be. He is a great man and I am sure he will bounce back really well.”

The support for Hooper from around the globe has been immense, with praise for his decision to expose his struggle and act on it. As far as role modelling goes, Hooper’s hand in the air could one of the most important things he does in his career.

“I think it is unbelievable. It is something I didn’t do and probably something 10 years ago, no-one did,” Slipper said.

“So for someone of his stature, the captain of the Wallabies, to come out and say ‘I’m not ok’, hopefully there is someone that is not doing alright who sees that and thinks ‘ok, I need to do the same’.”

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