Tuesday 7 August 2018 07:48, UK
Australia captain Michael Hooper is confident he will be fit for next week's Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship opener against the All Blacks following a hamstring injury.
Hooper was hurt on international duty against Ireland during the June Tests, the injury ending his Super Rugby season with the New South Wales Waratahs and his run of 79 consecutive matches with the Sydney side.
The uncompromising flanker completed his first full day of training with the Wallabies at their camp in Cessnock, New South Wales, and feels he is in good shape for the All Blacks test in Sydney on August 18.
He said: "Hiccups aside, with a week of training, I should be in a good position next week."
Hooper said his time on the sidelines had given him an opportunity to view the game from a different perspective but he was ready to get back on the pitch.
"I want to get back on the field but it has given me a different perspective at some of the great things that go on around rugby. Its been enjoyable to give my body a rest but I want to get back on the field," he added.
Michael Cheika's Wallabies are in the familiar territory of trying to win back the Bledisloe Cup from the All Blacks, who have held the annual trophy contested between the Antipodean nations since 2003.
Different this year is the Wallabies' preparation, the team having played a practice game against a Super Rugby selection last week to try to keep some match fitness.
Hooper felt that game had been the ideal preparation for a Wallabies side that was belted by Steve Hansen's men in the last two series openers, which set the tone for another two years of frustration.
He said: "I have heard the guys felt that really big contact and have some soreness and so on, and it was great mental preparation leading into the game too.
"There would have been pressure to not lose that game, to start with, and to also turn in a good performance. They all did a good job."
