1
Wallaby Tom Hooper ‘raring to get back’ after tough debut
Playing in front of a packed house at the world-famous Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria earlier this month, debutant Tom Hooper sang the Australian National Anthem with pride.
ADVERTISEMENT
Standing in-between Test veterans Nic White and Quade Cooper, Hooper continued to soak in the atmosphere of the occasion. In just a few minutes, the 21-year-old would officially be a Wallaby.
Halfback Nic White kicked off proceedings in the early house of a Sunday morning in Australia, and Hooper ran after the ball in unison with his international teammates.
But unfortunately, things didn’t go to plan.
Hooper missed a couple of key tackles in the leadup to Kurt-Lee Arendse’s first try, and the flanker was beaten again just a few minutes later by flyhalf Manie Libbok.
The Australian was replaced just 30 minutes into the contest for Pete Samu. Hooper had realised a childhood dream by debuting for the Wallabies, but nothing had gone to script.
It was later revealed that Hooper had sustained an injury.
But the young flanker is back, and will be eager to make amends against the All Blacks on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
ADVERTISEMENT
Tom has replaced regular co-captain Michael Hooper – no relation – at openside flanker. The Brumby was picked ahead of Queenslander Fraser McReight who started at No. 7 against Los Pumas.
Standing seemingly as tall as the Eiffel Tower, Hooper adds plenty of size to a formidable Wallabies backrow alongside blindside Jed Holloway and world-class No. 8 Rob Valetini.
Speaking with reporters in the leadup to Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup clash, Holloway said he wants to see more of what Hooper’s been “bringing at Super Rugby” level.
“His debut was cut short by a shoulder injury and he’s been raring to get back,” Holloway said on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Eddie’s put a lot of work into us for the last six days or the last seven days. He was very vocal about the issues that we have in the team and how the habits that we’ve developed over a period of time and how we need to break them. He’s definitely been hard on us when he’s seen those habits.
“Tom Hooper’s led that habit-breaking mentality because he’s just so eager. For the last six days, he’s been jumping out of his skin to be back in the gold.
“It’s interesting because it’s not a traditional Australian seven but I have no doubt the work he gets through, his mentality towards the game, he loves being in everything.
“I can’t wait to see him have a crack.”
Coach Eddie Jones is expecting “a battle of the breakdown” on Saturday, and has picked a bigger body in Tom Hooper in order to match the threat the All Blacks pose.
Coming up against a star-studded backrow trio of Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papali’i and Ardie Savea, it doesn’t get much tougher for Hooper and the Wallabies.
But the Wallabies aren’t overcomplicating it. Holloway is focused on what he brings to the side and wants his teammates to do the same.
“Tommy’s obviously quite young and eager so he’ll get around the ball quite a bit and he loves flying into things,” Holloway added.
“In terms of my role, because I’m the older head amongst those three, is just drive that energy, especially with our big boys out the middle.
“We’re not expecting to do what Hoops does or do what Fraser does, we just want him to play his game.
“Making sure that we don’t go away from that and what our games are because that’s what we’ve been picked for – to bring that. That’s what Eddie wants from us.”
Coach Jones has made seven changes to the starting side to play New Zealand, including a new-look halves duo of Tate McDermott and Carter Gordon.
McDermott replaces veteran Nic White in the lineup, while Gordon has been picked ahead of Quade Cooper for his first start at Test level.
“I’ve been super impressed with Carter all year. The development that he showed in year one at the Rebels to this year is astronomical. His rise has been unbelievable.
“I’m so excited for him to get his shot and same as Tommy Hooper. I think change is always good.
“Our bench, with the guys coming off, bringing that experience because that’s something that we haven’t really done well – our bench coming into the game and really controlling it.
“Having guys like (James Slipper) Slips, (Nic White) Whitey coming on that can really bring that cool collectiveness and help us finish off the game.
“I’m excited for those guys, I’m excited for Angus Bell… just can’t wait to see what we can do on Saturday.”
The Wallabies take on the All Blacks in the first of two Bledisloe Cup Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday evening.
Comments on RugbyPass
Amazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
1 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
1 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
1 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
8 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to comments