Copping criticism: Wycliff Palu

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has rejected a stinging accusation that Wycliff Palu “dogged it” at Eden Park and let Australia down badly in the heavy loss to the All Blacks.

Former Test fullback Greg Martin made the comments on FoxSports Rugby HQ program on Thursday night and they caused a sizeable ripple in Perth ahead of the Wallabies’ next Test with South Africa tomorrow night.

Fox Sports

“I reckon he dogged it a bit in the Bledisloe at Eden Park,” Martin said. “He let Australia down really badly and he does that often when the going gets tough.”

Speaking ahead of the Wallabies’ captains run, Hooper appeared shocked to learn of Martin’s sledge on the big Australian No.8 but instantly dismissed the notion Palu had not tried, or given up, in the face of the Kiwi’s 51-20 onslaught.

“The top tackler at Eden Park, and (the player who) made the most metres in carries at Eden Park was Cliffy. I have been playing with the guy all year, and the amount that he gets through, the impact he has on the game is huge,” Hooper said.

“I know I really enjoy playing with him, and when he comes out with a big hit, it can change the momentum of a game. I didn’t see those comments but they’re not accurate in the slightest.”

Martin is known to not hold back when offering an opinion, and insults don’t come much stronger than to accuse someone of dogging it, particularly in contact sport.

But the method behind the madness was perhaps seen when Hooper said while Palu wouldn’t necessarily take notice of the sledge, as skipper he be wouldn’t mind if it put extra fire in his belly.

“I don’t think Cliffy would get wound up about it, he is the type of guy who wants to do it for the guys around him, not because someone has taken a shot at him,” Hooper said.

“I don’t know how he saw his last game, I thought he got through a hell of a lot of work, and that showed. He (Palu) always has something to prove to the guys, but if you give the guy extra motivation, geez, that’s not a bad thing.”

Palu’s attacking statistics from the second Bledisloe Cup clash certainly suggest a drop in performance.

Fox Sports Stats show that he had five runs for 14 metres as the Wallabies pack was outmuscled by the All Blacks.

That came a week after a strong showing in the 12-all draw at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium, when Palu tallied 11 runs for 44 metres, made two tackle busts and an offload.

Asked if he disappointed in former Wallabies criticising the current side, Hooper said – to his credit – he kept an appropriate level of perspective.

“You have to come to expect that people have an opinion on it – that’s rugby union,” Hooper said.

“We have been part of a campaign throughout Super Rugby and throughout Tests, that if things aren’t going well people are going to have shots at you. It just comes part and parcel with what we do. You grow to accept that.

“Maybe taking a shot at Cliff is a bit unwarranted, because the guy is servant of the game I think, and puts his body on the line.”