Michael Hooper to replace Dave Dennis as Waratahs 'team' captain

Ya

A test captain needs to be a first pick in his position. IMHO Hooper is not.

Cheers mate. Always have trouble recalling which plays which side. Hope they both go well and if Mike does start killing it, hope that Cheika gets on the blower and gets him home.

just a chance to make a bad pun while avoiding the moderation filter twas.

That is the Rumour three games then more problems as I have heard that two have been promised the job by two different board members. Re the 10 I like Greene he seems to have it and I would rather build a team than get in a cycle of trying to get finished product.

Guus? What does Guss Hiddink have to do with this Soapit?

Yes Hooper at 12..It makes perfect sense..He`ll definatley have more line breaks than Gitaeu and is a dominant tackler and can pilfer ..He can`t kick, although Gitaeu couldn`t either so no loss there.. Do it CHECKA !!

nb you made a statement that was in part wrong. i pointed that out which i felt was all that was needed given that it was easy for anyone capable of using google (including you) to check it out as a black and white fact. i thought little point in turning it into a debate or discussion (waste of time for all concerned surely?) and a simple note would suffice. my thoughts on this havent changed. perhaps you should seek another debating partner if you want to get into an extended discussion about this kind of minutiae. though you really should try harder to not lash out to lash out with the silly insults when challenged. it will benefit the roar vibe in general (at the expense of my own enjoyment admittedly) and will also make you look like less of a guus when you are shown to actually be wrong. unfortunately not the first time ive had you respond this way so seems to be a bit of an ongoing issue for you. ironically not the most mature behaviour it must be said.

I note that Bam Bam has been training exclusively at 7 for the Brumbies this pre-season. He said at a presser yesterday something along the lines of his not contemplating spending time at 8 this year. Many people speculating that he wasn't just referring to the Brumbies. I reckon that's a stretch. Although, to be mischievous for a second - with Toomua gone, there's a spot for Hooper in the national team at 12 at last!

You're probably right that each brother has played both sides. Allan I'm sure was a tighthead through junior ranks but has focused on loosehead through the NRC and at the Brumbies. A shame really. With Alexander in his final years and Sio establishing himself as the top loosehead in the country, Allan at TH could have made a great front row combination and added depth to a weaker Wallabies spot. I also really hope that Michael doesn't suddenly have a breakout year at TH for the Crusaders.

Well NB that's actually not the case. Pocock was the captain for the first Rugby Championship test in 2012 after captaining the Wales series before it. He then did not play a test again until the last test of the year in December. Due to injury. That was the only test he played prior to 2015. Will Genia was then made captain for the second Rugby Championship test in 2012. He did not play a test again until 2013. Due to injury. I believe Sharpe captained for the remainder of 2012. Both players were injured as captain, so that's why they discontinued being captain. It's highly likely that in both cases that Horwill's return would have resulted in him taking over the captaincy (at least in Genia's case as when they both next played in 2013, Horwill was captain). But the return of the incumbent captain is not why Pocock and Genia gave up the captaincy. Missing the remainder of the season due to injury was.

Thanks for demonstrating you have the mental ability of a child. Grownups debate and discuss. You dont. Poey got the captaincy when Horwill was injured. You are wrong. Genia got it when Horwill and Poey were injured. You are wrong. Hooper got it when Moore was injured. You are wrong. You are wrong. Nothing new tbh. Poey, Genia and Hooper were never first chice captains so injury didnt result in them losing the captaincy, the first choice captain returning was the reason they lost the captaincy. So again, YOURE WRONG.

I thought he was predominantly a tighthead who's only chance for the Tahs came at loosehead. Would therefore be Ta'avao and Ryan who were seen ahead of him. Can't blame the guy for looking elsewhere when Kepu moved on and they looked outside the squad for a replacement. His brother Allan has had a bit more success with the Brumbies, and I think he is the one that prefers loosehead. (am sure Brett can correct me if I've mixed up which brother plays where). Got a feeling they both play both sides though.

I've re-looked at the squad and you blokes are probably right - he'll likely be looked at lock before they look at him at 6.

Would be very surprised if he isn't used there at all. Agree that I think initially he will be mostly looked at as a lock. But a lot will depend on the performances of Palu, Dempsey, Lousi and Holloway - depending which of those players are displaying the best form, Mumm is a guy who adds flexibility to the squad by being able to play lock and 6.

Then Checks needs Pocock to replace Golden child at 7 for the Wallabies next.....Golden child to bench..

There is nothing sure about Richard Graham based on performance mate. Otherwise he wouldn't be coach this year, or wouldn't have even been hired in the first place.

Surely Richard Graham has three (losing) games only before he is sacked; not an entire season. The Reds are using club/ NRC standard #10's this year. I fear this is too big a step up in class for McIntyre and Greene. Then again, Lealiifano was nothing special in the NRC.

Even more frustrating would be having to wait until Tilse retires just to get a shot at a bench spot, as it seems the Tahs have no interest in finding someone better.

I think he's a LHP who was fighting it out with Tilse for the 17 jersey behind Robinson. Probably didn't want to wait until Robinson retired to get his chance.