The reason why Michael Hooper can't make the Wallabies cut - not even as a bench player
After 10 years spent playing rugby in Australia, incumbent Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has announced his decision to head overseas on a six-month sabbatical.
Hooper will link up with two-time World Cup winners Steve Hansen and Kieran Read at Toyota Verblitz in Japan’s Top League during the 2021 Super Rugby season.
During the COVID-19 pay negotiations, the players association struck a deal with Rugby Australia that would allow certain players to take advantage of a sabbatical clause to compensate for pay cuts.
Of the players eligible, Hooper is arguably the most in need of a rest. Throughout his career, he’s rightly welcomed praise and accolades for his energetic, tireless devotion to Australian rugby.
Logically, he’d need a break eventually.
Hooper has battled constant scrutiny over the years, mainly due to a perceived lack of size while playing arguably the most combative position on the field.
To his credit, he’s deservedly held his spot with his high work rate, ever-present involvement in the game and his unquestionable leadership qualities. This was even enough to see David Pocock, who many considered to be the best openside in the game, move to number eight for the Wallabies.
But even though he’ll likely be back for test matches next year, the sabbatical suggests that he’s into the backend of his days in gold. A new wave of promising young talent once again raises concerns over his standing within Dave Rennie’s plans, and his decision to head abroad seems like an attempt to see off the pressure from a new generation of challengers.
We could see a rejuvenated Michael Hooper return to Australia’s shores in time for tests in better nick than we’ve seen in recent years. For his international ambitions, he might need that. Just look at how some time in Japan helped Sam Whitelock.
Let’s take a look at how under pressure he actually is.
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Dave Rennie named his most recent players of national interest (PONI) list last week, and unsurprisingly Hooper was named. Also selected as openside flankers were Queensland Reds duo Liam Wright and Fraser McReight.
Both players have been fantastic around the breakdown in particular throughout Super Rugby AU, with the former leading the competition with 20 turnovers to his name. McReight has also impressed with 11 even though he’s come off the bench in two matches, while Hooper has just eight from seven games played.
The Queenslanders have also proved to be reliable on defence, with Reds captain Wright again the best of the three with a tackle accuracy of 90.53 percent. Even though Hooper has only missed 13 tackles in Super AU, he has the worst percentage out of the trio at 87.74 percent.
But let’s not discredit Hooper completely.
Playing in his 150th Super Rugby match a few weeks ago, he was lively around the park and actively looked to get involved – classic Hooper. This approach to the game has seen the flanker run the most metres from the most carries out of the three over the first eight rounds, while also leading these flankers in try assists.
But when it comes to what a team needs the most from a flanker, most would agree: defence or probably efficiency around the breakdown are key. Hooper has been bettered by his younger counterparts in both of those areas so far in AU.
Of the three, Wright in particular is gunning for the Wallabies seven jersey despite playing mostly blindside in Super AU. The 22-year-old has been one of the standout players from the Australian competition, and his leadership has grown in leaps and bounds.
With Dave Rennie looking to usher in a golden generation of Wallabies success with so many young players selected in the PONI list, the team will need a leader for the future; one-test Wallaby Wright could be just that.
His teammate McReight was also last year’s Junior Wallabies captain and led Brisbane City in last season’s National Rugby Championship campaign. Another future candidate for the Wallabies captaincy.
So, what’s Hooper’s point of difference if he doesn’t have the captaincy?
Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen believes Rugby Australia should take notes from New Zealand Rugby.https://t.co/aDxqdLeYRr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 28, 2020
In January, Rennie said that Hooper would have to earn the captaincy, and there’s definitely a case to suggest that he hasn’t. He shows plenty of heart, but that and leadership can’t keep getting him selected when the country can’t win big games – it’s time for change.
When test rugby resumes, the Wallabies need a new-look back row to steer them towards success.
Harry Wilson appears all but certain of making the number eight jersey his own, and could bring the combination of himself, Wright and McReight to the test arena quite comfortably.
But on the PONI list, Wilson was also listed as a blindside flanker.
If he’s named at six and they elected to go with Isi Naisarani or the man I’m about to mention at eight, then it simply wouldn’t make sense to leave out both Queensland flankers; Hooper would have to be left out.
The player that I just alluded to has been a particular standout recently, and is really pushing his case for either the gold six or eight jumper.
Pete Samu has significantly better tackle accuracy than even Wright, currently at 92.17 percent; missing just four tackles in his six AU games. The 28-year-old has also scored two tries, made five more clean breaks than Hooper and has better discipline, having not conceded a penalty in AU against Hooper’s eight.
I know though, very different players.
But, the point that needs to be made is that there’s so much back row talent within Australian rugby, and promising future leaders, that Hooper simply can’t make the cut in the medium term – not even as a bench player.
The Wallabies need impact off the bench by way of power, brute strength and ferocity; that back rower position simply then has to go to Isi Naisarani.
No stopping Brumbies on a night when Amy Perrett became the first female to referee a Super Rugby match ? https://t.co/z3hwybXAv1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 28, 2020
Naisarani has had 49 carries in his three AU games since returning from injury, for 97 metres. His work rate and ability to get over the gain line is exactly what Australia need off the bench.
So for me, there’s three potential combinations for the Wallabies back row.
First, Hooper retains his position in the starting side due to his leadership qualities, lining up alongside either Wright or Samu at six, and Wilson at eight.
Next, the Reds trio of Wright, McReight and Wilson fill up the back row, while there’s no place for Hooper in the 23. When it comes to leadership concerns, Matt To’omua or Allan Alaalatoa should probably take the captaincy while Wright is named as a vice.
Finally, Wright plays openside while Harry Wilson lines up at eight, and Samu is named at blindside. Again, no room for Hooper as Naisarani comes off the bench.
I believe that the third option with To’omua as captain and Wright as a vice makes the most sense.
Hooper’s decision to explore what rugby can offer for six months next year is a risk, and it might just payoff for him. He could come back better than ever and save his place as a Wallabies regular.
But all things considered, it seems like it’s the beginning of the end for a test career which needs to be celebrated.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 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 commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments