2023 Super Rugby season a tale of two halves for Wallabies debutant

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says he took a while to warm to flanker Tom Hooper, with the Brumbies youngster only catching his eye in the final rounds of Super Rugby Pacific.

Hooper is the only debutant in the Wallabies starting side to take on South Africa in Pretoria, with three other uncapped players – five-eighth Carter Gordon, lock Richie Arnold and 21-year-old prop Zane Nonggorr – on the bench for the Loftus Versfeld Test on Sunday morning (AEST).

The 22-year-old has been named at No.6, in a back row alongside veteran openside flanker Michael Hooper and No.8 Rob Valetini.

Standing 199cm and weighing 118kg, Hooper will add physical presence against the Springboks, who pride themselves on their set piece.

From Bathurst in country NSW, Hooper, who is equally comfortable at lock, suffered a foot injury in the Super Rugby pre-season which followed a significant shoulder injury late last year.

Jones said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham talked up Hooper but he didn’t immediately see what the fuss was about.

“I went down to the Brumbies early in the season and Stevie (Larkham) was saying ‘Keep an eye out for this young fella’.

“He had a late start because of injury and the first few games weren’t very impressive and I thought, ‘Does Stevie really know what he’s talking here’ but certainly toward the end of the season he was an absolute stand-out for them.

“Basically he rips in.”

The young Hooper was one of the best on-field in an 80-minute performance for the Brumbies in their semi-final defeat against the Chiefs last month, which effectively booked his ticket to South Africa.

Leap-frogging NSW utility Jed Holloway into the Test side, Hooper has never played in South Africa, while the Wallabies have never tasted victory in Pretoria.

He will have a strong contingent of Brumbies teammates alongside him in the Australian pack – props Allan Alaalatoa and James Slipper, lock Nick Frost and No.8 Valetini.

Test co-captain Slipper predicted Hooper would thrive in the Test arena.

“He throws his body into everything and he wants to be the best teammate he can be,” veteran Slipper said of Hooper.

“For us right now he’s the perfect fit and he’s worked hard to be where he is so it’s pleasing he’s in the team. It will be good to see him get out there and debut.”