Waratahs lose captain Hooper for four weeks

Waratahs will be without their captain Michael Hooper for up to four weeks due to an injury sustained in the Wallabies' loss to Ireland in Sydney.

Hooper limped off the field after just 16 minutes into the first half of the Series decider clutching his hamstring in noticeable discomfort.

Waratahs assistant coach Simon Cron told reporters in Sydney on Monday that Hooper is in a race to be fit for the Super Rugby play-offs.

“I know our physios are working with the Wallabies physios around the time frames and from what I understand it’s minimum this stage four weeks,” he said.

“We’d hope to have him back in our finals series ideally. It’s very early, so they’ll keep working through it.”

The Wallabies captain has an incredible streak running with the NSW club having not missed a Waratahs match in six seasons and hooker Damien Fitzpatrick commented on the absence of Hooper in the starting XV:

“It’s definitely going to be a different feeling not having him playing for the Waratahs because it hasn’t happened before, but at the same time he’s confident in the guys around him in that position, he’s prepared them really well and they’ve prepared well,” he said.

“It’ll be exciting to see who gets that seven role and then obviously who gets an opportunity to lead the side.”

Will Miller is the leading candidate to start in place of Hooper in the No. 7 shirt on Friday as the Waratahs travel to Melbourne to face the Rebels.

With three rounds of Super Rugby remaining, the Waratahs hold a one-point lead over the Rebels at the top of the Australian conference.