He was angry at the time, but Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has shrugged off All Blacks star Brodie Retallick’s brutal cleanout from the first Bledisloe Cup Test.
Lesser acts have earned yellow cards but Hooper’s plea to Kiwi referee Paul Williams fell on deaf ears in New Zealand’s 33-25 victory at Eden Park.
The stage is set for a spicy rematch on Saturday in Auckland after the Wallabies recalled firebrand flanker Lachlan Swinton and winger Andrew Kellaway poked the bear with the All Blacks “aura has worn off” comments.
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“He got me good!” Hooper exclaimed when asked about the Retallick incident today.
“That’s what I said to him out there – ‘I didn’t miss playing you.’
“It had been a while since I ran up against Brodie. But that’s Test match footy.
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“There’s a lot of that stuff that’s missed and over the attrition of the game that stuff adds up and wears you down. Both teams, I’m sure, will be putting it out there tomorrow.”
Hooper followed coach Dave Rennie’s line that the Wallabies “respect but don’t fear” the All Blacks, who haven’t lost to Australia at Eden Park since 1986.
The Wallabies must win to keep the series alive heading into the final cup clash in Perth in August 28.
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“We’re going out there to impose our game on them and it’s Australia vs New Zealand rugby,” Hooper said.
“A lot’s been made of that (aura) issue but it always is in these kind of weeks.”
Hooper said the Wallabies were determined to play well for “our people” as much of Australia grapples with the deadly Delta strain of coronavirus.
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“We’re feeling greatly supported away from home. It’s been tough for us. Every person, staff and players on the team has their challenges like everyone else in the world at the moment, we’re just a little cross section of that.”
Meanwhile, All Blacks legend Andrew Mehrtens told Wide World of Sports radio that Swinton’s selection made Australia’s intentions crystal clear for Saturday’s second Test.
“We know Swinton doesn’t take a backward step,” Mehrtens said.
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“I mean a guy who comes in for his first Test and gets red carded pretty early, you know what his intentions are.
“He’s going to bring a little bit of steel, a little bit of fire and they need to physically front up against the All Blacks so that’ll be helpful.”
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