Wallabies need to go back-to-back: Hooper

Oct 27, 2016 - 6:01 PM Forget the grand slam, let's start with the dream double.

That's the opinion of Wallabies star Michael Hooper, who will be part of a 32-man squad bound for London on Friday to embark on a unique five-Test tour of Europe.

It is the third time the Wallabies will meet England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland on the same tour since an Alan Jones-coached side scooped a quartet of wins in 1984.

While both touring parties failed to complete the slam, teammate Bernard Foley earlier this week bravely predicted the new-look side could repeat the 28-year-old heroics of their predecessors.

But Hooper, who was crowned John Eales medallist for the second time in his career on Thursday night, set his sights a little lower.

"Just winning back-to-back would be nice. The feeling of getting a roll on and everyone doing their job is so satisfying," he said.

"The grand slam will be a product of that. What will be so satisfying is people who've put in a lot of hard work, people who've been given a hard time, get that reward and result they deserve."

The Wallabies will set up base in London before moving onto to Cardiff, where they kickoff a gruelling five-week challenge beginning against Wales on November 5.

That will be followed by games against Scotland, France and Ireland before finishing the tour with a highly-anticipated Test against England at Twickenham on December 3.

"That would be pretty special, rolling into Twickenham with everything to play for," Hooper said.

"To get a win on the board against the Welsh would be nice and keep that roll going, because they're always a hard team to play.

"But back-to-back wins are sweet. You sing that song in the changeroom a couple of weeks in a row and you start to build something special.

"The grand slam term's thrown around a lot... you've got to win back-to-back games to do it.

"That's the focus for us. One win, next win, and go from there. That's what it has to be."

Source: AAP