‘Restarts crucial for Wallabies’ – Hooper

The Wallabies want to grab the momentum against the Springboks and captain Michael Hooper says that mission begins at every kick-off.

Restarts were costly for the Wallabies in their previous Test, against the All Blacks in Dunedin, with a fumbled receipt ultimately leading to the All Blacks’ winning try, and Hooper said it was an area they had focused on after that Test.

“Restarts, obviously, just being able to put points on a team and then get the pressure off your back is a big one,” he told the Australian Rugby Union's official website.

“A lot's made of momentum within games and I think restarts are a huge factor in momentum, the fact that you can dictate the way the game goes, with how you control those areas.”

The Springboks will bring a more dynamic back row to the equation in Perth than they have in the past, with Rugby Championship leading scorer Siya Kolisi at six and Jaco Kriel on the other side of the scrum, but Hooper said all that had changed was the letter on their jersey’s size tag.

“We expect them to be very strong over the ball, both of those players (Kriel and Kolisi) are really good carriers and defenders there,” he said.

“It's a different jersey size at the end of the day from some of the guys that used to be playing to what they are now, but (they’re)  no less effective in what they do and how they get around the field.”

Australia has its own back row strike weapon in Sean McMahon, who blitzed through the field in the Perth Test last year and was immense in Dunedin.

“Seany's strong in the tackle, strong making his tackles and he's good over the ball as well,” added Hooper.

“It's nothing new there, just everyone doing their role and particularly Seany can have a massive influence when he gets that right.”

One player who won’t be there is Dane Haylett-Petty, with his season over after a biceps injury.

After an emotional week for West Australian rugby, it’s the Perth-raised winger Hooper feels for as much as anyone.

“This is one he really wanted to play, and the bloke, he's been an absolute revelation, in my opinion, over the past 16, 18 months” he said.

“I think he's an outstanding player.

“So, to miss out on this one that's really close to his heart, I'm feeling for Dane, but it's these little things that'll make him come back so strong.”