Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has dismissed the distractions that have surrounded his side in the build-up to this weekend’s meeting with Scotland and insists they are ready to finish their tour on a high.
The week began badly for the Wallabies as they sought to recover from last Saturday’s 30-6 defeat to England at Twickenham when it was revealed that their coach Michael Cheika was under investigation because of the way he had reacted at the end of that match.
He was cleared yesterday, having issued what World Rugby described as ‘an open apology’ but in the meantime controversy has been generated about the quality of the training facilities offered to his side in Edinburgh.
“It's been a fantastic week, we have really enjoyed ourselves, it has lived up to everything we have expected and guys have experienced before. It is wet, cold, sunny one minute then raining the next,” said Hooper, however, adding that Cheika, more than anyone, had maintained focus fully on the match.
In saying so the flanker noted that this match represents coming ‘full circle’ in terms of their international year which began with a shock defeat to Scotland in Sydney in June and would consequently help them assess their progress.
“It is a good chance to see where we have come and where we have improved,” he said. “Losing at home hurts and the fashion in the way it went down to the wire in front of a home crowd stung, certainly. We are keen to see where we land this weekend and how we shape up.”
Matches between the two have been keenly fought over the past decade with the teams winning three apiece and Hooper reckons that is down to attitude.
“Both teams have players who fight to the end regardless of the score and who is in front, both teams are throwing punches right to the death,” he said.
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