Wallabies 2020

[Rebels3]

Ever heard of Jordan Petaia?

The odds of Hooper being dropped are slim because he's still the best 7 going around.

McReight is the future but he's still no where near Hooper. Wright is a different player and i can see him getting selected if Rennie wants something different from his backrow. But, again, hes not a better player.

Stop talking sense. It’s confusing and does nothing for adding to the list of ridiculous selections people have suggested over the years.

 

[footy1>31]

I think JO'C is a sneaky good option for the test captaincy. He's clearly in the XV. He's our best 10, top two 12's and best 13. So some kid playing well isn't going to put him under selection pressure.

I also think Hooper can't be captain going forwards, his leadership has been good, but that's about it. He is probably the worst communicator with the referee I've ever seen, he very often makes awful tactical decisions. At best he's going to be under a mountain of selection pressure from Wright (maybe an option) and McReight.

Plus I think Hooper is (and always has been) better suited to coming off the bench.

off-topic but Stephen Moore was absolutely the worst communicator with refs

 

[Zero_Cool]

@Footy Before the 2019 RWC I'd have agreed with you on Moore, but Hooper really took it to another level. I think the really point of difference for him has been his before and after press conferences. Moore at lest kept the appearance of respect for the referees.

I agree McReight might not be ready just yet. But the rate he's going he'll be starting next year for sure. As for Wright I'd say if we were only picking on form he'd be the starting 7. But mix in the money we're paying Hooper and the Rugby Australia politics and Hooper's obviously more likely to start. But Hooper's been far from exceptional this season, and if he has a few bad games and Wright steps up for the home stretch I think Wright (and McReight) will have Hopper under a lot of selection pressure.
I agree all in all Hooper will more likely start, but I don't think we can say on recent form Hooper is the best 7. Wright is right there and McReight is coming fast too.

 

[Slim 293]

but I don't think we can say on recent form Hooper is the best 7.

Oh, I think we can.........

 

[upthereds#!]

He did say at the very end of the article "of course there would be the odd exception". I think the front row is an obvious one although Tupou deserves to start on form and meets the criteria. Maddocks also meets the criteria and probably on recent form is ahead of Banks. I would have Hooper for sure and O'connor and To'omua and run some younguns off the bench like Lolesio as a 10/12 if fit. I think if there isn't much between the older v younger player, then opt for the young one. If there is a clear drop in ability then stick with the older player.

5/15 isn't the odd exception. However, when you start to talk about carrying all those young guys but with support across a 23, it's a bit easier to stomach. When you talk about including them as a part of a 33 man squad? Then this is more realistic.

But I generally hate the premise. Get your young 'PONI' guys to come along to as many training squads and meetings etc the Wallabies have locally, give them that exposure and recognition that they AREin the picture. But if you want to have winning culture (Mr Kafe), then you need to do whatever you can to WIN - usually means picking the best players week in week out. As I said in another post, these youngsters may have a winning culture now (at least from u18 and u20 - not so much not that they are Super Rugby players) - but if you make the Wallabies a development team, then they will lose - alot.

 

[dru]

Oh, I think we can... [[edit say that Hooper is the form 7]]

This is from TOTW and who took the 7 slot:

R5. Wright
R6. Hooper
R7. McReight
R8. McReight

You can say what you want Slim, but you would not be in concurrence with the voice of G&GR. At the moment McReight is the form 7. This without him starting at 7 in anywhere near as many games as Hooper. Reds don't play this weekend so perhaps Hooper and McReight will be equal pegging going into the final round. But suggestions that Hooper is a slam dunk for the form 7 are nonsense.

I don't think Hooper being captain is wise - there are so many quality loose forwards coming through I wouldn't complicate selection by locking away one of the slots. The problem is that there are similar problems with the other obvious candidates, White, JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua, DHP. So you might say, "nah, not Hooper." Then look at the options and go "OK, Hooper it is." It isnt without issues though.

 

[Slim 293]

This is from TOTW and who took the 7 slot:

R5. Wright
R6. Hooper
R7. McReight
R8. McReight

You can say what you want Slim, but you would not be in concurrence with the voice of G&GR. At the moment McReight is the form 7. This without him starting at 7 in anywhere near as many games as Hooper. Reds don't play this weekend so perhaps Hooper and McReight will be equal pegging going into the final round. But suggestions that Hooper is a slam dunk for the form 7 are nonsense.

I don't think Hooper being captain is wise - there are so many quality loose forwards coming through I wouldn't complicate selection by locking away one of the slots. The problem is that there are similar problems with the other obvious candidates, White, JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua, DHP. So you might say, "nah, not Hooper." Then look at the options and go "OK, Hooper it is." It isnt without issues though.

Sure, McReight has been pretty good, for a fortnight.........

But Hooper's form over the course of the year, experience, and history of being a high calibre test player puts him on top.

 

[dru]

Sure, McReight has been pretty good, for a fortnight...

But Hooper's form over the course of the year, experience, and history of being a high calibre test player puts him on top.

Hooper is a fine player, an energizer battery that never stops and will do 90mins week in week out.

I don't doubt your statement that he has a history of being a high calibre test player, and this may put him on top. But form is a different matter. And right now there are legitimate arguments that he is not the form 7 of S Au.

 

[Wilson]

Hooper is a fine player, an energizer battery that never stops and will do 90mins week in week out.

I don't doubt your statement that he has a history of being a high calibre test player, and this may put him on top. But form is a different matter. And right now there are legitimate arguments that he is not the form 7 of S Au.

At super level I might agree with you, but there are errors in McReight's game that aren't an issue at super level but would be at test level. Hooper is more complete in this respect and I'd say he's still the form 7 from a test perspective. Across the season I'd also have Hooper nosing ahead of McReight on form, though McReight's form is on more of an upward trajectory.

I'd certainly be looking at McReight in the squad, and possibly on the bench if it suits the balance of the team, but I'd have him as only the 3rd choice 7 to start right now (Hooper and Wright being 1 and 2).

I do think Hooper's move to Japan puts more doubts over his captaincy. I don't really agree with the Australian captain playing anywhere but here, sabbatical or otherwise. I don't mind him seeing out the year as captain though, while he wasn't particularly good at it initially I think he's really grown into the role. With so much change in the side to come this year I think it's probably sensible to have him stay in the role while the other contenders have a chance to secure their spots and put their hands up to take over.

 

[Up the Guts]

@Footy Before the 2019 RWC I'd have agreed with you on Moore, but Hooper really took it to another level. I think the really point of difference for him has been his before and after press conferences. Moore at lest kept the appearance of respect for the referees.

I agree McReight might not be ready just yet. But the rate he's going he'll be starting next year for sure. As for Wright I'd say if we were only picking on form he'd be the starting 7. But mix in the money we're paying Hooper and the Rugby Australia politics and Hooper's obviously more likely to start. But Hooper's been far from exceptional this season, and if he has a few bad games and Wright steps up for the home stretch I think Wright (and McReight) will have Hopper under a lot of selection pressure.
I agree all in all Hooper will more likely start, but I don't think we can say on recent form Hooper is the best 7. Wright is right there and McReight is coming fast too.

Did you see the game where Wright played 7?

He’s a 6 and a good one at that.

 

[Derpus]

Hooper is a fine player, an energizer battery that never stops and will do 90mins week in week out.

I don't doubt your statement that he has a history of being a high calibre test player, and this may put him on top. But form is a different matter. And right now there are legitimate arguments that he is not the form 7 of S Au.

McReight won't be picked to start.

It's a choice between Wright and Hooper. I actually really like Wright and won't be displeased if he is selected. But i don't think he is as good as Hooper.

Hooper is phenomenally underrated by Australian fans. Average players don't get to 99 test caps under three separate coaches in record time.

As an aside, i actually think Wright is better at 6.

 

[KOB1987]

This is from TOTW and who took the 7 slot:

R5. Wright
R6. Hooper
R7. McReight
R8. McReight

You can say what you want Slim, but you would not be in concurrence with the voice of G&GR. At the moment McReight is the form 7. This without him starting at 7 in anywhere near as many games as Hooper. Reds don't play this weekend so perhaps Hooper and McReight will be equal pegging going into the final round. But suggestions that Hooper is a slam dunk for the form 7 are nonsense.

I don't think Hooper being captain is wise - there are so many quality loose forwards coming through I wouldn't complicate selection by locking away one of the slots. The problem is that there are similar problems with the other obvious candidates, White, JOC (James O'Connor), To'omua, DHP. So you might say, "nah, not Hooper." Then look at the options and go "OK, Hooper it is." It isnt without issues though.

As the bloke who puts out the TOTW I can inform you that the the selections are highly skewed to the teams that win.

R6 above is the interesting one as that was Tahs v Reds. In that game Hooper shat on both McReight and Wright. In R7 both teams won but Tahs was against the Force and McReight got the vote via the Reds massive defensive efforts, however none of his attack stats would have caught anyone's attention. Last round Reds thumped the Force and Tahs were thumped by Brumbies, so it was advantage McReight.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

@Footy Before the 2019 RWC I'd have agreed with you on Moore, but Hooper really took it to another level. I think the really point of difference for him has been his before and after press conferences. Moore at lest kept the appearance of respect for the referees.

I agree McReight might not be ready just yet. But the rate he's going he'll be starting next year for sure. As for Wright I'd say if we were only picking on form he'd be the starting 7. But mix in the money we're paying Hooper and the Rugby Australia politics and Hooper's obviously more likely to start. But Hooper's been far from exceptional this season, and if he has a few bad games and Wright steps up for the home stretch I think Wright (and McReight) will have Hopper under a lot of selection pressure.
I agree all in all Hooper will more likely start, but I don't think we can say on recent form Hooper is the best 7. Wright is right there and McReight is coming fast too.

I urge you to take off your red coloured glasses and watch Hooper play impartially. He's been the form No. 7 in Super Au by some margin (even in a team that has been up and down like a yo-yo).

 

[KevinO]

McReight won't be picked to start.


Hooper is phenomenally underrated by Australian fans. Average players don't get to 99 test caps under three separate coaches in record time.

Yes, but his also the worst Wallabies captain in the professional era, you can blame Cheika for most of it, but Hoopers record as captain is around 35-40% win. So let him do his thing with out the arm band.

 

[Derpus]

Yes, but his also the worst Wallabies captain in the professional era, you can blame Cheika for most of it, but Hoopers record as captain is around 35-40% win. So let him do his thing with out the arm band.

Happy with that. I'd say AAA should get the nod - but Tupou should now be starting. I think we actually are looking at To'omua or JOC (James O'Connor) captaining.

Id also be happy if Rennie picked a club captain and then a match by match captain.

 

[Jimmy_Crouch]

Yes, but his also the worst Wallabies captain in the professional era, you can blame Cheika for most of it, but Hoopers record as captain is around 35-40% win. So let him do his thing with out the arm band.

A change of captain wouldnt have won anymore games.

 

[barbarian]

I've been impressed with the leadership role To'omua has taken this season, on the field but especially off it.

He's proposed a number of rule variations, seems to be vocal about the future of the competition, and is clearly thoughtful and articulate.

I actually think he's the frontrunner at the moment, and I'd be more than happy to see him with the (c) next to his name.

 

[KevinO]

Happy with that. I'd say AAA should get the nod - but Tupou should now be starting. I think we actually are looking at To'omua or JOC (James O'Connor) captaining.

Id also be happy if Rennie picked a club captain and then a match by match captain.

At the moment a match by match captain would not be the worst thing, give a few different guys to show there leadership potential at international level while they work out who the best 15 is.

I do agree that AAA would be front runner if it wasn't for Tupou form. I still thing Tupou off the bench for impact with AAA doing the early grunt work is the best option at the moment.

 

[Try-ranosaurus Rex]

A

At the moment a match by match captain would not be the worst thing, give a few different guys to show there leadership potential at international level while they work out who the best 15 is.

I do agree that AAA would be front runner if it wasn't for Tupou form. I still thing Tupou off the bench for impact with AAA doing the early grunt work is the best option at the moment.

Hooper is front runner for the captaincy. You'd have a very difficult time arguing otherwise. 99 test Wallaby, highly respected by team mates and oppositions, youngest player ever to amass 150 Super Rugby games, incumbent captain with ~ 5 years of experience.

Anyone suggesting that anyone (To'omua, AAA, O'Connor) else as front runners are projecting their own biases or thoughts as facts. They may be the front runners as an alternative captain, but you can't suggest they are the front runners.

 

[Derpus]

At the moment a match by match captain would not be the worst thing, give a few different guys to show there leadership potential at international level while they work out who the best 15 is.

I do agree that AAA would be front runner if it wasn't for Tupou form. I still thing Tupou off the bench for impact with AAA doing the early grunt work is the best option at the moment.

I also don't really buy into the 'impact' argument for guys like Tupou and Hooper. Better to have their energy and explosiveness on the field for as long as possible.