The Wallabies’ long 2025 season comes to a close this weekend at the iconic Stade de France, and the side arrives in the French capital with the eyes of the rugby world on them.
A day off on Monday saw time away from rugby, tough conversations, and as loose forward Tom Hooper sat down to speak to the media on Tuesday, the hunger to produce a result that reflects the effort the side has put in on tour.
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Hooper was part of the infamous 2023 World Cup, and while he concedes the side isn’t where it wants to be, he believes that under head coach Joe Schmidt, the side has come in leaps and bounds.
“He doesn't sleep, that bloke. He genuinely doesn't sleep,” the 21-capped Wallaby told reporters. “He's always working for us. When it comes to team meetings, the message is clear. He still believes in us, which is an amazing thing from a head coach.
“Straight after that dressing room on the weekend, he got us all up on our feet, dusted us off, got us connected as a group, and he gave us one clear message, and that's that he still believes in us. We have to believe in what we're doing.
“As Joe said, these results haven't gone our way, but they are going to make us better. I've sat in a changing room in 2023 after a defeat to Wales [in Lyon], where we genuinely didn't throw any punches at all. The progress that we've had since then has been amazing.
“I know for the Australian fan base, it seems at the moment that we're really down in the dumps. We are mentally, but physically, and in terms of our belief and our psyche towards where we can take this team and where we are going to take this team, it's never been stronger.
“The key driver of that has been Joe Schmidt.
“He's been an amazing person in terms of that motivation, but also that clarity and calmness that it takes to win test matches. We need to deliver this weekend, all those aspects this weekend to get a result.”
The Wallabies took time out on Monday to step away from camp, with players using the opportunity to travel around the French capital and reconnect outside of the rugby context.
Hooper took a lot out of the time, not just for the chance to enjoy the tour, but also to have some candid conversations with his teammates.
“I had a nice snack and a cheeky baguette. It was quite nice,” Hooper joked. “That'll contribute to a bit of gainline on the weekend, I think.
“I think physical refresh is important, but also mental refresh. Any result, any time you're part of the dressing room that you don't really want to be a part of, you've just got to connect. That's exactly what we did.
“We sulked for a little bit, then we got up on our feet, connected as a group, and then had that day off really to make sure that we were connecting. It wasn't just sightseeing, it definitely wasn't. It was a couple of hard conversations that we had amongst the boys, and that's just the kind of group we are.
“We're incredibly fortunate and privileged to be placed in this role. We don't take that lightly at all. It's good to open your eyes, zoom out, take the resource blinkers off, and go, wow, we're pretty lucky to be where we are.
“...At the moment we've had a few down moments, but we know that as a team if we keep connecting and as Joe said we're more process orientated than outcome orientated, we will eventually get the results that we want.”
The Wallabies will have to rediscover that progress quickly against France, with the Fabien Galthié-coached side particularly strong under the high ball, an area the Wallabies have been targeted on this tour.
Hooper believes that the Wallabies’ backline can turn things around and deliver on their imposing potential, and it starts with the forwards also getting their act together.
“It will help them once we can make sure that our shape and our forwards and our set piece and all that starts flowing,” Hooper explained.
“I think it's not fair to put it on just one guy or one position. We know that once we start getting our forwards game going, then it will definitely help them go to a new level.
“It's not just on 'Su' [Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii] to get up; it's making sure that I'm there to get the scratches when he taps it back. We know every time that ball goes to boot, it's a contest. On the weekend, there was no difference.
“We've got to make sure that we're there fighting for the scraps on the ground because it's a whole team effort. It's the same thing for the set piece. We've got to get our set piece going right, and then the backs can work their magic off it.
“The pigs have to go to work for the pretty boys to score the tries.”
