「Wallabies apos; Hooper Should Be In Frame To Return Against Scotland:...」を編集中

MELBOURNE, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Michael Hooper should be in the selection frame for Australia's next test against Scotland after taking time away from the game for wellbeing reasons, stand-in captain James Slipper said on Wednesday.<br> Regular skipper Hooper is back training with the Wallabies after being named in Dave Rennie's squad for the five-test season-ending tour of Europe.<br> Slipper, who has stood in as captain since Hooper withdrew during the Rugby Championship,  [https://pinfaves.com/kim-hooper-houston-garden-center-weight-loss/ https://pinfaves.com/kim-hooper-houston-garden-center-weight-loss/] said the 30-year-old flanker was tracking well ahead of Scotland next week.<br> "He'll be picked on merit. Knowing 'Hoops' well, he'll want to fight for his position. He doesn't want to roll up and just walk into the team," Slipper told reporters on Wednesday.<br> "He's just a competitor naturally, so it wouldn't surprise me if he's in and around the team for that first game."<br> Slipper, who will lead the Wallabies through the tour, said he was in no hurry to hand back the captaincy.<br> "As a good mate of his, I'm just really happy he's back fit and healthy. That's the most important thing," he said.<br> "Secondary to that is the captaincy. It's probably in everyone's best interests if Hoops just concentrates on himself.<br> "We want him to enjoy himself and just be happy.<br><br>So I was happy to take the leadership role for the rest of the year and whatever happens in the future, that can happen."<br> After Scotland, Australia play France, Italy, Ireland and Wales away and are desperate to find consistency in the leadup to next year's World Cup in France.<br> The Wallabies finished third in the recent four-nation Rugby Championship, after losing a home series to England in July, putting pressure on Rennie to turn things around on tour.<br> "You kind of want that momentum running into the World Cup and for us it's a great opportunity to start that momentum now," said Slipper. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)<br><br><br>            adverts.addToArray({"pos":"inread_player"})Advertisement