New Australia captain Michael Hooper is relishing the chance to face off against France skipper and fellow openside flanker Thierry Dusautoir in the second Test on Saturday as the Wallabies seek to seal the three-match series in Melbourne.
Named vice captain with seasoned back Adam Ashley-Cooper before the series, Hooper was promoted after Stephen Moore’s reign lasted barely a minute before the hooker suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 50-23 win in Brisbane.
France will also have a second captain in two weeks, with Dusautoir taking the armband off prop Nicolas Mas after he was rested at Lang Park to aid his recovery from a bicep injury.
Australia's youngest captain in decades, 22-year-old Hooper will concede 10 years and 36 caps to Dusautoir but said he would not take a backwards step against the seasoned flanker.
“We’re aware of the challenge they bring and Dusautoir is obviously the leader of that pack and will be at the forefront and, I’m sure, bring a lot of passion,” Hooper said in Melbourne on Friday ahead of the clash at Docklands stadium.
“He’s obviously a class player. As a number seven, you want to play these guys and play the best in the world.
“He’s been at the helm for France for a few years now and is a really tough competitor. We’ve been preparing for that this week.”
France coach Philippe Saint-Andre dropped two-thirds of his starting side at Brisbane, introducing a raft of players who arrived late for the tour after contesting the French club final.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s midfield crisis shows no sign of abating after the Springboks announced that Stormers centre Juan de Jongh will play no part in June internationals against Wales and Scotland.
De Jongh, the fifth centre to drop out of international contention in the past month, was admitted to hospital on Sunday and treated for pneumonia before he was discharged on Thursday.
He joins captain Jean de Villiers (knee), Frans Steyn (withdrew), Damian de Allende (knee) and Jaque Fourie (ankle) on the sidelines, leaving the Boks to start today’s first Test against Wales with converted wing JP Pietersen at outside centre and Jan Serfontein, earning his first start, on the inside.
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