Hooper the next Wallaby fetcher?

Brumbies openside flank Michael Hooper took a couple of weeks to earn a spot in Jake White’s starting XV, but the youngster is now being tipped for high honours by his coach.

Hooper was man of the match in the Brumbies 33-26 victory over the Highlanders last weekend, which was especially impressive considering the Otago side’s reputation as masters at the breakdown.

With no obvious understudy to David Pocock in the Wallaby setup, Australia coach Robbie Deans will be keeping an eye on an emerging talent such as Hooper.

White has no doubt that Hooper has all the quality to make the step up to the international stage sooner rather than later.

“There’s no doubt in my mind about that,” White told AAP.

“The bottom line is that Michael’s been groomed as a junior and everyone speaks highly of him.

“He’s had an outstanding year last year in the (world) under-20s tournament and he was one of the players that obviously caught the eye of all the coaches that were there.

“As long as Michael keeps playing like he does, he sets the bar higher and higher for the players that want to take his jersey.”