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‘Not the time to start’: Australia sevens coach discusses Michael Hooper’s future
Australia aren’t too far off the pace in the SVNS Series. While they were pipped by SVNS Series leaders Argentina in the Perth final on Sunday evening, there’s plenty to like about this team.
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With playmaker Maurice Longbottom returning to near-career-best form, and with veteran Henry Hutchison back in the mix, the Aussies will be tough to beat in Vancouver next month.
But with the new-look SVNS Series leading to a Grand Final tournament in Madrid later this year, all teams are building to that event. Fortunately for Australia, their depth is a major talking point.
The Aussies, who played in front of their home fans at Perth’s HBF Park over the weekend, have big-name recruit Michael Hooper waiting to be called upon in the coming months.
Hooper, who is a four-time John Eales Medallist with the Wallabies, wasn’t available to play at the event on Australia’s west coast.
Coach John Manenti has suggested that ‘Hoops’ is potentially unlikely to get a run in Vancouver or Los Angeles, but advice from medical and training staff will play into that decision.
“Back-to-back tournaments, probably not the time to start him but I’ll let the S&C (strength and conditioning coach) and the physio direct me where he is,” Manenti told reporters after Australia’s 31-5 loss to Argentina in the SVNS Perth final.
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“He’s been around the group a bit now and he’ll pick up the footy components quite easy.
“Obviously athletically we want him right.”
Australia fought valiantly in the Perth decider, but they just couldn’t match the physicality that the Argies brought to the table.
Argentina, who defeated Australia in last month’s SVNS Cape Town event, has speed to burn with Marcos Moneta’s purple patch continuing with a double in this match.
But it’s their size and brute strength which is especially stunning. Look no further than try-scorer German Schulz if you need an example.
German Schulz: A man on the move 💨#HSBCSVNS | #HSBCSVNSPER | @lospumas7arg pic.twitter.com/fgt6gAnyuc
— HSBC SVNS (@SVNSSeries) January 28, 2024
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Meanwhile, the Aussies had to lean on experienced campaigner Nick Malouf and Nathan Lawson for big minutes every time the team took the field.
But, other than Hooper, the team has other players waiting in the wings.
“We’ve got a few other forwards in our squad which will help. I’m asked an enormous amount of Nick Malouf and Nathan Lawson, they’re playing nearly 14 minutes every game because they’re our big bodies,” Malouf said.
“But at home we’ve got Michael Icely who’s very close, ready to go. Henry Paterson, he’s close and ready to go and a bloke called Michael Hooper who should add a bit more grunt to us as well.
“Over the next two weeks tournaments or Hong Kong, Singapore, those guys will work their way back in and what it’ll means is we can give those big boys a bit of a break when they’re punchier on the field.
“I felt, a bit like Cape Town, we got to the final hanging on a little bit just from an energy level wise… we’ll get a few guys to add to that and we’ll work hard.
“We’ve had a fantastic training block leading into this so I’m really happy we’ve got to the final because it should resonate with the boys, the hard work and the quality of training gets you to where you need to be.
“The challenge for us is coming back and training hard and going to Vancouver and LA and doing the same again.”
SVNS Vancouver gets underway on February 23 to 25. Those interested in watching some of the world’s best rugby while enjoying the best party in town can get tickets HERE.
Comments on RugbyPass
Danny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
2 Go to commentsJa, why do Bulls get flack for not bringing their best but Leinster never bring their best and it goes “unnoticed”?
3 Go to commentsIt’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
6 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
6 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
6 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
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