Wallabies Seek to Resurge in France: Hooper Highlights Progress with Schmidt

Tom Hooper returns to France, a country that brings him bittersweet memories after his participation in the 2023 Rugby World Cup with the Wallabies, where they experienced difficult moments. Under coach Eddie Jones, the Australians suffered a new setback, being eliminated in the group stage for the first time. Two years later, the Wallabies face a similar situation. After falling to England, Italy and Ireland, Australia seeks to salvage their spring tour with a victory over France in Paris. However, another defeat would mean a record of 10 losses in a calendar year and their first four-match European tour without a win in 67 years. Hooper says the atmosphere in the Wallabies camp is very different under coach Joe Schmidt, who has been criticized for the team’s current poor performance. The burly forward was part of the Australian team humiliated by Wales (40-6) in Lyon, which practically confirmed their elimination from the World Cup.

Hooper commented from Paris: “I was in the locker room in 2023 after the defeat against Wales, where we really didn’t put up any fight.”

The progress we have made since then has been amazing.

Tom Hooper

“I know that for the Australian fans, at this moment it seems that we are very depressed,” Hooper added.

We are mentally, but physically and in terms of our belief and our psyche towards where we can take this team and where we are going to take this team, it has never been so strong. And the main driver of that has been Joe Schmidt.

Tom Hooper

Hooper highlighted that the New Zealand mentor couldn’t be working harder to help the Wallabies overcome their slump.

He doesn’t really sleep, he’s always working for us, so when it comes to team meetings, the message is clear.

Tom Hooper

“He still believes in us, which is incredible from a head coach,” he added. “Immediately after in that locker room on the weekend, he got us all on our feet, shook us up, connected us as a group and gave us a clear message, and that is that he still believes in us”.

We have to believe in what we are doing and, as Joe said, these results haven’t turned out as we wanted, but they will make us better.

Tom Hooper

Schmidt’s selections and game plan have also been criticized, but Hooper stated that it depended on the players to better execute their skills, with their line and aerial game particularly fragile in last weekend’s thrashing against Ireland (46-19), where they conceded six tries.

We completely believe in what Joe is building here, and we have all completely bought into that program and the system he had in place.

Tom Hooper

Hooper, one of Australia’s best players throughout the year, went on to say:

Over the weekend, there were a couple of times that their system and their program would have worked, but we simply didn’t execute as players.

Tom Hooper

“So we fully believe in their ability and the ability of the entire coaching staff, the way they are preparing us has been wonderful.” “Ultimately, we just have to make sure we take the tools we’ve been given all week, we’re calm, we’re serene, and then we perform on the weekend.”