Michael Hooper happy to face Welsh contingent

AUSTRALIA flanker Michael Hooper says a British and Irish Lions team packed with Welshmen will give his side some confidence heading into the first Test on Saturday after the Wallabies’ recent dominance of the Wales team.

The Wallabies have a 6-0 record against Wales in the past 19 months, including a four-Test sweep last year.

Fifteen of the original 37-man Lions squad chosen by Wales coach Warren Gatland were from his side. More than half the Lions starters Saturday in Brisbane are expected to include Welshmen led by captain Sam Warburton, halfback Mike Phillips, prop Adam Jones, winger George North and full-back Leigh Halfpenny.

“We’re expecting a large Welsh contingent in the team on the weekend and we played them a couple of times last year and got the win,” Hooper said yesterday.

“We’ve had the luxury of playing them six times in the last two years and a few times last year so it can’t hurt.”

But Hooper, who could be at No 7 when the Wallabies side is announced today, also said the Lions will have the edge in match fitness because of their six tour games ahead of the Brisbane test, including its first loss, a 14-12 decision to the ACT Brumbies on Tuesday in Canberra.

“They’ve obviously been playing for a couple of weeks.,” said Hooper. “But we’ll be fresh and, once we hit the ground, we’ll be ready to go.”

The Wallabies, meanwhile, have had an extended three-week training camp following 14 rounds of Super Rugby.

The Wallabies and Lions will play the second test on June 29 in Melbourne and the third in Sydney on July 6.

Australia haven’t been sharp in season-opening Tests in the last two years, losing to Samoa in 2010 and Scotland last year.

The Lions haven’t won a series since 1997, including a 2-1 loss on their last visit to Australia in 2001.