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Why Aussie broadcaster ‘felt’ for Michael Hooper on SVNS debut in Hong Kong
Well-known SVNS commentator Sean Maloney has compared his struggles during a recent half-marathon in Canberra to Michael Hooper’s debut at the Hong Kong Sevens last week.
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Hooper, 32, was a headline-grabbing inclusion in Australia’s squad for the prestigious SVNS Series leg at Hong Kong Stadium. ‘Hoops’ had trained with the squad for a while but an Achilles injury pumped the brakes on a potential debut.
But finally, about a fortnight ago now, the former Wallabies captain was officially named in Australia’s squad in the event. Hooper would go on to debut on the SVNS Series as a second-half replacement against Fiji on Friday night.
The 125-Test veteran, who wore the No.77 over the three-day event at the spiritual home of rugby sevens, showed glimpses of promise in Hong Kong China and was rewarded with a maiden start in the third-place playoff against Ireland.
Hooper also played a pool stage match against eventual finalists France. Popular Australian broadcaster Sean Maloney has explained why he “felt” for the Wallabies legend during that fixture which kicked-off at about 9 pm (local time) on day one.
“Hooper is now a fully-fledged Aussie sevens player,” Maloney said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts.
“Oh man, I felt for him. His first involvement in the game against France with two to go, has to get through a tonne of work real quick and then has to try and track back in defence.
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“The legs, it was like me in the marathon, there was nothing there.”
After Australia’s final match of the weekend against Ireland, which they lost 14-5 on Sunday, Hooper took some photos with fans around the stadium before disappearing down the north-west tunnel.
Hooper, who won a record four John Eales Medals during his illustrious 15s career, said it himself after stopping to speak with a few reporters: “I didn’t have high minutes.”
But in a bid to make the Olympics squad later this year, Hooper’s first opportunity on the SVNS Series was clearly an important experience.
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“Just how quick it is, how quick the game is,” Hooper told RugbyPass and other reporters after being asked what he’s learned. “It’s over in a flash.
“Probably it being like real rugby… I felt good out there, I felt like I could compete.
“There’s some areas of the game that I think I can get a lot better at for sure; how I link with other players and when I can impact the game. It was a good weekend.
“I didn’t have high minutes. That was probably the most amount of time there in that game and I felt good,” Hooper added.
“We go three weeks at home now, a bit of a down week, and then two really good weeks and get over to Singapore. I’ll be better again then.”
They may have finished fourth in Hong Kong China but Australia have dropped down one place on the men’s SVNS Series standings into sixth after rivals New Zealand won the Cup final.
New Zealand, who have been quite inconstant this season, moved up to fifth with just one more regular season event to be played in Singapore in about three weeks’ time.
But it’s all building towards a first-ever Grand Final event in Madrid which gets underway at the end of May.
Comments on RugbyPass
A Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
103 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
103 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
103 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
103 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
103 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
103 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
103 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
103 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
103 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
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