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“Welcome to our world,” Hooper said as two nations in desperate need of a win prepare to clash in a season-ending blockbuster at Twickenham.
The battle for the Cook Cup is always intense but the 43rd meeting between Australia and England carries added significance in more ways than one.
Saturday’s Test match is a precursor to the group stage World Cup meeting at the same venue next year but also represents the final chance to salvage worrying November campaigns.
Both sides have lost five of their past six Tests, with the Wallabies facing the prospect of their worst European tour in nine years.
Hooper believes successive defeats to Ireland and France have masked Australia’s true progress under Michael Cheika but admits a win in the tour finale will at least provide some tangible evidence.
And he knows England will be out for the same, with four of Stuart Lancaster’s side’s past five defeats coming at the hands of all-conquering New Zealand.
“We’ve had two losses in a row now, so for us to get the payoff of a win after five really hard weeks on tour will probably be the major reward,” Hooper said.
“The English had to play the All Blacks three times in a row, then come over here and face more southern hemisphere teams straight off the bat. That’s what we’re used to.
“(The results) are probably an unfair assessment on how they’ve been playing.”
Hooper has rejected suggestions of Saturday’s match doubling as a World Cup trial, saying there’s plenty of rugby still to be played.
But he insists there’ll be many positives to take into next year from Australia’s foray under Cheika, who took on the job in the wake of the text message scandal that led to the demise of Ewen McKenzie.
“The results haven’t been there but we’ve done a lot of good work on this trip,” Hooper said.
“We’ve done a lot of good work off the field and the training has been immaculate. We’ve put some really nice things in place.”
Cheika has made two changes to the side that lost 26-23 to Ireland in Dublin, with NSW Waratahs winger Rob Horne and Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon earning recalls to the starting side.
Lancaster has picked Billy Twelvetrees at inside centre ahead of out-of-form Owen Farrell and is viewing the match as a “mood shaper” heading into February’s Six Nations.
“We recognise the quality of the side we’re playing against but equally we should back ourselves to do well at Twickenham,” Lancaster said.
“They’ve played some fantastic rugby under Michael Cheika.
“We’ve made one or two changes but we’re confident, ready and we’re looking forward to it.”
The Wallabies plan to wear black armbands as a mark of respect following the death of Phillip Hughes, with the Australian cricketer also likely to be honoured in a pre-match tribute.
