The "Michael Hooper as Test captain" exercise is now getting really serious.
Overlooking Stephen Moore as the Wallabies skipper for the Fiji international was a signal that change was about to happen. There were a few ifs and buts about the announcement, with the emphasis on Moore to show he was still worthy of a spot in the 23-man Test squad.
To back it up the following week, persisting with Hooper as captain against Scotland, confirms that leadership succession has occurred. Now there are enormous ifs and buts about whether Moore will even make this weekend's playing squad following his underwhelming performance off the bench in Melbourne.
Tolu Latu is Australia's form hooker in Super Rugby, and he didn't deserve to be completely overlooked for a second weekend running. Moore was named on the bench, after being told in the initial team announcement that he would have to "fight it out with Tolu Latu for a spot amongst the reserves", but still the doubts likely remain about the Reds rake.
You won't get any argument against Hooper being permanent Test captain from me, especially as I pushed for this change almost a month ago following the Waratahs flanker's man-of-the-match performance against the Rebels - in which match he also cleverly manipulated the referee, Angus Gardner.
The decision to choose the best Australian Super Rugby performer, who has had captaincy experience, ahead of someone decidedly out of form and who will also struggle to make the next World Cup tournament is bleedingly obvious. You always have to go with the one on top of his game, and that's Hooper.
Not surprisingly, Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has shown consistency in his selection, as there were enough good aspects in the 37-14 win over Fiji to allow him to give his players another chance to express themselves in their positions. The only change results from an injury, with winger Eto Nabuli taking over from Henry Speight, who strained a hamstring during his two-try performance.
Cheika understands the importance of combinations, and it is wise to give Karmichael Hunt another chance at No 12. There were some handling and passing blemishes in his performance against Fiji, but overall he produced a creditable first-up performance at inside centre as he succeeded in straightening the attack and worked well in tandem with No. 10 Bernard Foley. If Hunt holds up against Scotland, the No 12 position could be his for some time, or until Kurtley Beale is threatening him.
Cheika has also been pushing the line that he wants his team to take on more of a mongrel dog outlook, prompting large photographs of barking hounds to be placed strategically on the Wallabies' dressing room walls.
It seems to be working, but it does help when you have Adam Coleman at the centre of your pack. With the highly aggressive and confrontational Coleman in your forward contingent, the Wallabies can no longer be categorised as pampered poodles.
They better not be on Saturday, as Scotland, who understand the importance of in-your-face passion, have a way of undermining the Wallabies, especially those they consider to be soft. The Scots, for good reason, fervently believe they will beat the Wallabies. The intense pain of the 2015 "we wuz robbed" Rugby World Cup match lingers.