Wallaby legend suffers setback ahead of Olympics
NEWS: Michael Hooper remains in the frame for an Olympics Sevens call-up despite injury robbing the former Wallaby captain of one final Paris audition.
After featuring in the Singapore and Hong Kong World Series legs for Australia, an injured Hooper was one of four team changes confirmed on Friday for the Madrid top-eight ‘grand final’ from May 31.
Calf and achilles niggles had already hampered Hooper’s sevens transition since his controversial snubbing from last year’s 15-man World Cup in France.
The 32-year-old is now managing a recurrence of pubic-bone inflammation, forcing coach John Manenti to hold him back from the Spanish World Series finale.
Instead, Hooper will have to prove himself in training camp to book his ticket to Paris.
“He’s had a flare-up,” Manenti told AAP.
“It just needs to settle it before it deteriorates. [He’s] still in the frame and doing everything he can to make the Olympics.”
Tim Clements, Josh Turner, Dally Bird and Matt Gonzalez return to the squad as James McGregor, Teddy Wilson and Henry Palmer dropped out along with Hooper. Maurice Longbottom remains sidelined by injury.
Manenti’s side finished fourth in the world-series rankings to qualify for the Madrid showpiece ahead of the Olympics in July-August.
“We head into the world-series final excited about the new format and our first trip to Madrid,” Manenti said.
“The team has prepared well and are keen to have a crack at the best teams on the circuit.
“Our pool is as tough as ever, with league champions Argentina, France and Great Britain.”
Australia men’s team: Henry Hutchison, Ben Dowling, Dietrich Roache, Tim Clements, Henry Paterson, Josh Turner, Dally Bird, Matt Gonzalez, Nick Malouf (captain), Nathan Lawson, James Turner, Hayden Sargeant, Michael Icely.
