After the Waratahs’ performance against the Hurricanes last Saturday night you simply couldn’t have failed to notice Michael Hooper.
He was in support for every break, he hit the majority of rucks and he continued his reign as the top tackler in the Waratahs.
Hooper shouldn’t be looked past for the Wallaby open side flanker position.
At the moment there are three people in contention for the number seven jersey to take on the British and Irish Lions.
You have George Smith, who may not be available for selection anyway, Liam Gill, who has been tremendous this year, and Michael Hooper who has been quiet in the media thus far.
The Wallaby selection panel will have to weigh up experience, leadership and form.
Form versus experience is often a crucial decision coming into such important series.
At this moment, if a team was to be picked for this tour, George Smith would be the seven.
His form thus far as been outstanding. He is one of the leaders in ball steals in the competition and his leadership skills will come in handy.
Liam Gill, while he has been in great form, will be hard to pick seeing as he has little international experience.
Michael Hooper does have one solid season of international rugby under his belt, but his form of late hasn’t been great in a struggling Waratah pack.
Let’s say George Smith wasn’t available for selection leaving Hooper and Gill.
The selectors have to take into consideration which team each player has been playing in.
Liam Gill has been in a dominant pack and a winning team this season. Michael Hooper has been playing in an ‘on off’ pack and hasn’t really stood out.
Part of my reasoning for picking Michael Hooper as the Wallaby openside flanker revolves around how many debutants Robbie Deans will pick for this series.
Liam Gill is a safe option as a debutant but Michael Hooper’s 2012 European tour form should put him one step ahead for the number seven jersey.
atlas
Guest
Who makes up the selection panel? Deans and . . .who? thanks
Jason
Guest
You all have very short memories, Hooper was the standout Wallaby last year in the rugby championships and the spring tour and came 3rd in the John Eales Medal last year, having played 4-5 last games than those in front of him. He is the man for the job, yes he is not shining like he was for the Wallabies last year, but he is behind a pack who are lazy and having to carry the jobs of 2-3 men. Gill is an outstanding prospect and coming off the bench in the last 20-25minutes to combine with Hooper could be the x-factor to winning the series.
formeropenside
Guest
IN 2012, all of Robinson, TPN, Kepu, Ryan, Timani, Douglas, Dennis and Palu were repeat Wallabies. No other Australian team can point to that many caps across so many players in 2012.
formeropenside
Guest
Just because you are right on this point Jez does not mean all NSW-men are. I'm largely just sick of the pretended objectivity. Remember how worried you would be if Qld rugby ran the ARU? Thats how I have felt about the last 20 + years.
mania
Guest
wow harsh. ardie had his forwards backing him up, whereas hooper was the lone ranger. hooper was so not schooled. i doubt hooper even realised there was a class session going on. he was just doing his thing, consistently over and over again. ardie may have won the battle of the 7's but hooper sinlgehandedly carried his forwards
mania
Guest
whilst normally i would agree with u fos, in this exceptional case i'll disagree. gill is young and has an entire career ahead of him. if he had been able to play both u20's and wb's then fine. but he was captain of the u20's so has a committment to his team. also why is so important for the wb's to need the services of an u20 yr old? sage - yeah what u said. gill's young and doesnt need to be rushed. hooper seems like he misses a lot but its because he does a lot. missing tackles is about rushing it. hooper will learn to play to the rythm of the game and play with a bit more accuaracy.
Malo
Guest
True Hooper was schooled, id be happy with an all out brumbies back row. Hooper can regain form but needs to get his speed back and no support from 6 and 8. I suppose Gills experience, toughness and speed is all we need though to beat the lions according to those fanatical one eyed qlders. ABs smash us with the depth of their backrowers.
No true open-sider in Wannabies
Guest
How can u play Hooper against the Lions after he was schooled last weekend against the Canes by a debutant...Ardie Savea???
Stanley grella
Guest
I've forgotten we're I saw it but there wasa stat doing the rounds that there was almost 60 wallabies running around in superugby. The term wallaby is certainly devalued by deans rotation of players. There is only 2-3 waratahs who are actual first choice wallabies the constant call by people that wearing a gold jersey somehow makes them better than others just isn't true in the current environment.
Stanley grella
Guest
My opinion is that if the lions select a team to smash us, we can look for parity or survival but that we don't have the players to compete so picking a pack that can survive but also create a ton of movement and speed will give us a great fitness advantage as thematch goes on. That's why I suggest hooper & smith out there together for at least part of the match.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Better discount my calls for Gill then! :D I am sure I have an ulterior motive that will occur to me.
Handles
Guest
A key part of the Lions strategy will be to smash us at the breakdown and scrum. Selecting any of these 3 as a 6 will be playing into their hands, in my opinion. I would be looking for a bigger unit, even moving MMM (back) to 6.
Handles
Guest
lol
Malo
Guest
Hooper on the bench and the rest of the pack thanks for coming. They are playing crap. Backs a different proposition, Folau, AAC and Barnes on bench
linz22
Guest
"Wallaby laden tah’s pack" this means nothing, they were half asleep and none of them should be chosen on current form. Stupid statement.
AdamS
Roar Guru
He was worried that his big brother Julian would single him out for some attention tuilagi style.
Daveski
Guest
McCutcheon,Douglas,Ulugia,Dennis are hardly first choice wallabies...Kepu for that matter too. Your logic is flawed...it should be harder for Hooper to "shine" and stand out if he's surrounded by such rugby Gods as you claim the Waratahs forward pack to be...
Lachie
Guest
Both hooper and gill are fine young prospects but isn't it a little scary that the 19 year old canes 7 with five frontline forwards out of the pack ( Vito , Coles ,Ben franks,thrush , Lowe ) outplayed hooper suurounded by a Wallaby laden tah's pack I am not knocking hooper but he had trouble with that kid all night
ncart
Guest
Both Gill and Hooper are great players. I'm a Reds supporter but happy to accept that Hooper is great, especially last year. I am not in support of Smith getting picked - if you leave to play overseas then you make your choice - coming back short term and becoming available for the Lions tour doesn't set a good precedent. Yes, you pick your best players but I think that both Gill and Hooper offer a great deal, and it is time to be picking players for the future.
Stanley Grella
Guest
I really don't get why having a preference means you have to discard the other and talk smack about them. Both are great players and I believe both should be in the match day 22. (assuming smith isn't available) As was said early on in the comments your really choosing between a pilferer and a workhorse. Whoever gets chosen I'm fine with and don't believe you could really successfully debate eithers conclusion. Gill on form this superugby & hooper on coming off the EOYT as our best player. For me the best thing that could happen is Smith is allowed to play and we pick him at six. We have no standout blindside & picking smith will allow us to have a pilferer whilst using hoppers running game as an advantage at open side.