He’s the youngest Wallabies captain in more than half a century.
But Michael Hooper says he’s not fussed about years – he plays rugby by the minute.
“I haven’t been able to sit back and look back at any of the year so far,” Hooper said.
“They way rugby is at the moment, you move week to week and you enjoy every minute of it.”
Hooper became the youngest player to captain the Wallabies since 1961 in June this year after Stephen Moore suffered an injury.
Next Saturday, he’ll try to break another long-running record by scoring a win against the Springboks in Cape Town.
The last time Australia won at Newlands was 1992 – when Hooper was just one year old.
For his part, the “kid-captain” is looking forward to a bit of hometown jeering from the South Africans.
“You turn up on the bus and people are yelling at you and all the rest of it,” he said.
“It’s a really cool environment.”
But Hooper knows coming up against the Springboks at Newlands will be a tough assignment, despite the Wallabies clinching a 24-23 win over the side in Perth earlier this year.
“It’s a hard place to play. They love to play,” he said.
“You need to go there and be ready to play really tough rugby.”
An added threat is Japan-based flanker Schalk Burger, called up to the Spingkboks after Francois Luow suffered a neck injury.
Burger is almost a decade older than Hooper, but the young Australian isn’t daunted.
“(It’s) really exciting. As a backrower, you want to beat the best backrowers in the world,” he said.
“Whether they start him, we’ll wait and see.”
In the meantime, Hooper said the Australian team were just focusing on preparing themselves for the remaining Rugby Championships Tests with a solid training camp in Sydney before flying out on Monday.
That said, he knows even the best laid plans can go astray.
“Well we had a great week’s preparation against the All Blacks and that didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to,” he said of the 51-20 shellacking in August.
“Whatever the recipe is, I haven’t completely touched on it.”
In that regard, he’s got time on his side.
And while he’s sporting a full blonde mop now, Hooper knows he might be losing hairs after a few more months in the top job.
“Maybe at the end of the year, I’ll look back and see how much I’ve aged.”
Normal and rational SA supporter
Guest
Harry lets hold thumbs the Boks are on song Saturday, anything less than a clinical win will be a disappointment. Hope Heineken rests the front row and plays Van der Merwe, Bismark and Nyakane. could bring some serious and lacking energy and a point to prove for themselves. Strauss at 2 rests until the Ellis park ..he is the master lineout time Biltong Bek please try your hardest to be positive this week..is that an unreasonable request?
Chivas
Guest
And his crits are out abusing both players and those who think he is doing a good job. Personally I think most of his critics are more rubbish than any player I care to mention. Who cannabilises one of the best players in their national team. I don't think anyone trash talks their players as much as aussie fans, and on so little knowledge. But that is what this site encourages intolerance and a large dose of ign0rance when it comes to players and the game. Train without a station explained some of the difficulties facing a seven and especially when you don't have a strong tight five. He got rubbished as Hooper fan boi. And that is just one example of what happens if someone makes an effort to explain the science or mechanics behind something. So why bother. If the Bok win, and the tight five get smacked, I am sure you will be here telling everyone it is down to Hooper. Is there a point? Do you try to learn and understand the science and mechanics behind the game you purportedly support.
Zero Gain
Guest
OK, so let's watch and see how Hooper goes against the Boks. His fans are out in force quoting awards and stats and abusing his critics. Let's see if he can stand up this weekend and take it to the Boks.
Kilbongteb
Guest
And if pocock did not get injured, would we be talking about him at all?
Riccardo
Guest
Great comment Nick. I think Hooper is criticised for the failing of selection; the Fardy experiment has not worked and Palu seems to generate polar opinions. That the locks have been a little insidpid at the breakdown is certainly unhelpful too. Some mongrel in the second row, a stronger work ethic at hooker and a backrow of Hodgson/Hooper/Higgers may not only yield better dividends but allow the versatile skipper some time to secure turnover ball. His only drawback in that regards is his speed funnily enough; too often he will get to the tackle and effectively be isolated, even if he is successful.
Riccardo
Guest
Completely agree Ben. Not only are they dependant on the lads in front of them, particularly the locks/hooker but a good back row ican be defined by the sum of its components. They are or should be a unit, especially with the openside and blinside roles becoming more and more blurred. They need to work together and complement each others' skillsets. 1st and second tackler turnovers (Dusautoir and Picamoles are very good at this) for example.
Riccardo
Guest
Except about every junior side in every winter sport in the world. It may be innovative but clearly it hasn't worked.
trippa
Guest
I might assume your comprehension work is not only errant but flawed but that would be an assumption I shouldn't make based on one simple sentence. Could you highlight where I said these are 5 players I consider to be great? Or is it that I simply listed 5 players I consider to be currently better players then Hooper if paired with a world class backrow?
Chivas
Guest
On what grounds do you assess Cane to be great... Hypothetical talk is not only errant, but cheap.
Chivas
Guest
I'm not so sure, maybe not a SB pack because they have their own unique style which is doing amazingly well for them and don't really want anything but bash and crash guys except for the wings. But he would certainly have a look in, in the AB's who can use more dynamic players with a wider skill set.
crocodile
Guest
If 4, 5 6, and 8 were doing their jobs we wouldn't be having this Hooper hate discussion.
trippa
Guest
Hooper is a good player Albeit he does play too loose when paired with a powder puff Wallaby forward pack. However he wouldn't make a top 5 of 7's for me currently. When on form and playing there best right now i would take McCaw, Cane, Louw, Robshaw or O'Brian over Hooper at 7 everyday of the week in a world 15 pack. Give Hooper a few years and some harder work ethic and maybe he will be taken more seriously as a potential top open side by more people. Good player ... not yet Great
DJJOFFICIAL
Guest
Well said. I knew those stats were there somewhere. The comments above about him not being world class are absurd. The only criticism I have for the young bloke is that he doesn't get over the gain line when he runs in the tight close to the ruck. But out wide on attack he carves it up. Maybe a bit of age and a little but more weight might assist in that.
PiratesRugby
Guest
You can't seriously suggest that his captaincy in Bled 1 was anything to brag about?
Rob G
Guest
Hahah
Ben.S
Roar Guru
What on earth has Pocock ever done against England? Nothing. Rugby is a team game, and the back row is dependent on the tight five. Hooper and Pocock are simply different players, and if Hooper's game is flawed then Pocock's game is seriously limited.
canadiankiwi
Guest
Pocock is a better Test openside than Hooper. Test rugby is won, at the highest level (vs All Blacks, England, Springboks) in the tight forward exchanges where Hooper's game is flawed. By the way, I live in Toronto, not Sydney or Canberra or Brisbane so I have no agenda, it's just my opinion. Don't take it personally.
Jamie
Guest
Anyone else play fox fantasy. Hooper is the top rating backrower in the RC and is picked in over 75% of the teams, Kieran Read is 2nd. I think a few people make a lot of noise but the vast majority of us love hooper. I guess that's why he not only won the JE medal last year but also the peoples choice. One things for sure his coaches and team mates rate him as a player and captain. He has captained the waratahs and wallabies for 11 games for 9 wins, 1 draw, one loss, and so far this year has held up 3 trophies as captain.
Jack
Guest
I agree meany. Hooper is so good at running, the ignorant or lazy only focus on that, and completely overlook the other work he does. Hooper has topped the tackle count and breakdown stats for his franchise team and the wallabies for the last 3 years, AND the running stats. My prediction. Hooper will be the first wallaby to win back to back JE medals, and will be nominated in the irb player of the year.
Meany
Guest
Hooper won 22 test rugby turnovers in 2013, the next best international openside managed 11. Pretty hard to argue that he doesn't compete at the breakdown when he's twice as good as the next best. Hooper has the speed and skill to run great lines, but he runs no more than most good backrowers it's just that he is much better at it and gets much better results, line breaks tackle busts tries etc. Interesting to note that hooper has scored the equal most tries in the championships, most forward line breaks, most forward metres, most forward tackle busts, 2nd most turnovers won, 5th most Tackles and 1st for the wallabies. Any country in the world would want a backrower that can reach these levels, we are very lucky to have him. Hodgson is a great back up option and I hope Pocock can get fit and play again like he did in 2010/ 2011 it can only be good for the wallabies.