9 Jun 2014

Hooper named Wallabies stand-in captain

4:19 pm on 9 June 2014

Michael Hooper has become the third-youngest Australian rugby captain of all time after being appointed to replace injured hooker Stephen Moore.

The 22-year-old took over for the last 75 minutes when Moore ruptured his ACL in the 50-23 first-Test thumping of France on Saturday night, scoring a try and playing superbly in both attack and defence.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie says he admires Hooper's lead-from-the-front style of captaincy, saying it doesn't affect his game at all.

Rising prop James Slipper has been elevated to the vice-captaincy as McKenzie takes a youth policy to leadership.