Eddie Jones slams Michael Hooper as ‘not the right role model’ for Australia

Eddie Jones has stood by his decision not to pick experienced players such as Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper in his squad for the Rugby World Cup.

The Australia head coach controversially axed that duo ahead of the global tournament and instead selected a young side to go to France.

It proved to be a disastrous decision with the Wallabies going out in the World Cup pool stages following defeats to Fiji and Wales.

Criticism

Jones was heavily criticised for that call but insisted that short-term pain would equal long-term gain, with those callow Test players gaining valuable experience.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, the 63-year-old was asked about leaving out Hooper and Cooper, as well as Bernard Foley, which led to some forthright and, quite frankly, surprising comments.

“The situation reminded me of when Wayne Bennett let Wally Lewis go (at NRL side Brisbane Broncos),” he told the Herald. “No one could quite understand why, but Wally Lewis wasn’t a great role model for the rest of the team.

“And for those guys, I don’t think they were the right role models for the team going forward. Don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad guys.

“But you need guys – particularly when you’ve got a team like Australia has at the moment – you need guys who are obsessed with winning, obsessed with being good, and those three are past those stages.”

Pressed on the matter

Jones was speaking to former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons, who questioned him further on the Hooper omission in particular, but the head coach did not budge from his position.

“I stand by it, 100 per cent,” he said. “He is a great guy but the timing is not right for him.”

Hooper is a true Australia great having amassed well over 100 appearances for the national team, while he played a key role in them reaching the 2015 World Cup final.

He continued to shine individually, even when the results of the Wallabies dipped, and has earned the most caps as the side’s captain.

Still just 31, the flanker is set to turn his hand to Sevens in 2024 as he looks to feature for Australia at the Paris Olympics.

However, he will likely have one last foray in XVs this year with him set to join up with the Barbarians for their clash with Wales on November 4.

Coincidently, that Baa-baas outfit will be coached by none other than Jones, so that first meeting could be rather interesting.

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