Hooper gunning for action as he targets ‘class’ Sexton

Michael Hooper is gearing up for the biggest day of his fledgling career on Saturday.

The New South Wales Waratahs openside was set to serve as David Pocock’s understudy for the forthcoming series but all that changed utterly back in March when the incumbent Wallabies openside ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while playing for the ACT Brumbies.

Now, Hooper — who has barely a dozen caps to his name — is set to take on the might of the Lions backrow in Brisbane.

The 23-year-old flanker enjoyed an impressive breakout season in 2012 and won plenty of admirers for his displays against the likes of Richie McCaw, Thierry Dusautoir and Sam Warburton during a year which included a hat-trick of wins over the Welsh. Hooper, who is set to form a new-look backrow alongside veteran number eight Wycliff Palu and uncapped Brumbies blindside Ben Mowen, is expecting a titanic battle over the next three weeks, and suspects the series may stretch into a final day cliffhanger.

“We’re gunning for this first game,” said Hooper at the Wallabies team base in Brisbane.

“But, look, in 2001 (Australia) lost that opening Test, but they ended winning the series. You’ve got to expect the unexpected and roll with what’s happening. How ever way it goes, you’ve got to deal with what happens.

Hooper was only a child the last time the Lions were in town. In a series that finished on the last Saturday, with the Wallabies guarding a six-point lead while the visitors pounded their line, the Sydney-born back-row remembers the scenes of delirium as the home side clinched that epic series 2-1.

“I was lucky enough to be in the crowd (for the final Test game in Sydney) in 2001 amongst the sea of red,” he recalled. “I’ve got great memories, although I don’t remember much of what was happening on the field, I was pretty young at that time. But I remember the crowd atmosphere and how much excitement the Lions supporters brought to it.”

The Australian rugby union were left red-faced 12 years ago as the sizeable Lions support turned the Gabba Stadium into a sea of red for the opening Test of the series; a move that prompted the mass distribution of yellow scarves and caps to Wallabies fans who attended the subsequent Test in Melbourne. Hooper, however, does not envisage the same surreal scenes of the previous tour and fully expects the Brisbane faithful to make their presence felt at Suncorp Stadium.

“I’m hoping I see a bit of yellow in the crowd,” he joked. “I know Suncorp is a great ground for us and traditionally we’ve done pretty well here, so we’re excited to see a few yellow jerseys battle the red. Once we get on the field... it’s all about the rugby.”

Hooper will be charged with harassing and closing down Lions playmaker-in-chief Jonathan Sexton throughout Saturday’s test; a task which the young number seven is approaching with relish.

“He’s a class player,” he stated bluntly. “He’s a threat with the ball in hand and with the bigger guys outside him, he draws a lot of attention. I definitely want to get my hands on him early and we’ll go from there.”

Hooper, along with his fellow back rowers will also be charged with protecting their own half-back general Will Genia from the wrath of the Lions pack. “I guess the great thing about Will is, if he’s being harassed, that means there’s gaps opening up elsewhere,” he offered.