While much of the attention was focused on Waratahs wonderkid Max Jorgensen, an arguably bigger bolter was among the 33 names unveiled by Eddie Jones on Sunday.
While 18-year-old thoroughbred Jorgensen catches the eye galloping free in open space, Brumbies prop Blake Schoupp has been mastering the dark arts in Canberra.
The 23-year-old from Wollongong didn’t even have a fulltime professional contract at the start of the season, having been overlooked by the Waratahs before initially joining the Brumbies on a ‘train and trial’ basis.
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Schoupp hasn’t looked back and will be able to catch up with younger brother Aaron – a Titans NRL player – when he assembles for the Wallabies training camp on the Gold Coast later this month.
“He is built like a brick shithouse isn’t he?” Jones said.
“He is perfectly built to be a prop, he scrummages hard, he is hard on the ball and he is one of those guys who has come up the hard way. I feel with an opportunity we may get a bit more out of him.”
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“He’s built pretty close to the ground. If he’s standing behind a picket fence, you’re not going to see much of him.”
Schoupp had been playing for Southern Districts in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition and working as a PE teacher before his big break.
He loved Jones’ ”brick shithouse” line.
“It was pretty funny,” Schoupp told reporters.
“That’s just how he is. He’s a typical Aussie bloke and full credit to him.
“He has an aura about him. Now it’s all about parking it and putting in the work and continually trying to get better. It was cool to listen to and see….
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“It was definitely a shock. I’ve been working pretty hard here for the last few weeks, and I was just expecting it to be another normal week.
“Good times. Just looking forward to the next few weeks and then rip in.
“It’s always been a long-term goal. I definitely didn’t think it would come this quick.”
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