Eddie claims Hooper, snubbed veterans not the ‘right role models’ in stunning revelation

Eddie claims Hooper, snubbed veterans not the ‘right role models’ in stunning revelation

Eddie Jones, the under fire Wallabies coach, gave an explanation for his choice to send Michael Hooper home for the Rugby World Cup, saying the player wasn’t “the right role model” for the group.

Hooper, a Wallabies veteran of 125 games, was conspicuously absent from the squad that traveled to France with Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley.

Instead, Jones chose to choose a young, yet inexperienced, World Cup team, consisting of only seven players who are 30 years of age or older.

But Jones’ young risk paid off, as the Wallabies were knocked out for the first time ever in the tournament’s opening stage.

Many were left wondering if having an experienced somebody like Cooper, Foley, or Hooper around would have helped to maintain composure when things eventually turned rough.

However, Jones did not back down when he disclosed the reasons behind the exclusion of individuals such as Hooper from the expedition.

It was unclear why, but Wally Lewis did not serve as a positive example for the other players on the squad.

Furthermore, I don’t believe those men were the best role models for the squad moving ahead.

Do not misunderstand me. They are not evil people.

“But you need guys—especially with a team like Australia has right now—you need guys who are good and obsessed with winning, and those three are beyond those stages.”

Jones defended his assessment of Hooper, the Wallabies captain for a number of years, when questioned more about why he thought he wasn’t a good role model.  Jones declared, “I stand by it, 100 percent.”

“Although he is a wonderful guy, the time is not right for him.”

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