Michael Hooper a '50-50 call' for Eddie Jones' World Cup squad
Tim Horan rates Michael Hooper a 50-50 chance of World Cup selection and hopes Rugby Australia “give him the option” to go out on his terms if the Wallabies champion isn’t on the plane to France.
Eddie Jones will confirm his 33-man squad for next month’s showpiece on Thursday, Hooper’s status looming as the biggest call.
The returning coach’s first move was to name Hooper as co-captain alongside James Slipper.
But the 31-year-old was ineffective in a heavy loss to South Africa and is battling a calf injury that’s kept him out of the side’s last three Tests.
In that time Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight have shown their wares in the No.6 and 7.
Jed Holloway and Rob Leota have been employed as cover in the lock and No.6 positions, while versatile back-rower Pete Samu could still earn a spot despite being cut for the Bledisloe Cup.
Jones could also opt to take another prop as cover, given Taniela Tupou is nursing a rib injury after a long rehabilitation from a torn Achilles.
It leaves the 125-Test veteran, who is yet to confirm his playing future beyond this year, in a fight to feature at a third World Cup.
“It’s probably a 50-50 call,” two-time World Cup-winning Wallabies centre Horan told AAP.
“For what he’s done for the game and Wallabies brand in a difficult period over the last 10 years, plus his current leadership and ability, I’d be picking him.
“But he’s probably the No.2 or No.3 in line, fourth if they do go with Samu, who would be one of my first forwards picked.
“So if he doesn’t go, I hope Rugby Australia give him the option (to announce his Test retirement).”
Jones turned to youth with relative success in last Saturday’s All Blacks Test, a halves pairing of debutant captain Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon giving the Wallabies an early 17-3 lead before they were pipped 23-20.
That performance meant the 23 players used in Dunedin have likely punched their tickets, Samu Kerevi and David Porecki picking up injuries that shouldn’t jeopardise their French campaigns.
Hooker Jordan Uelese and outside centre Len Ikitau are likely inclusions too as they recover from injury.
The assured Andrew Kellaway replaced the axed Tom Wright at fullback for the Bledisloe Cup while Jordan Petaia wore the No.13, but could fill any spot in the backline.
Ben Donaldson and Dylan Pietsch haven’t played a minute under Jones but been retained in his squads as utilities, rated as precious in a Cup campaign, while veteran Bernard Foley is likely relying on the coach picking a third five-eighth if he’s to join Carter and Quade Cooper in France.
The squad will gather in Darwin for a four-day camp from Thursday before an official farewell in Sydney next week.
The Wallabies, who have sunk to No.8 in the world, will play the host nation in a final World Cup tune-up on August 28 (AEST) before their opener against Georgia on September 10.
Comments on RugbyPass
The first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to comments