Openside flanker Michael Hooper has received strong endorsement from the current Wallabies coach after having his form rubbished by a previous Australian Test mentor.
Hooper was the run-on No.7 for the Wallabies in last year’s World Cup, during which Australia’s other champion openside David Pocock started at No.8.
The 24-year-old flyer has won 51 caps and plenty of provincial and national awards, but there’s a perception the NSW Waratahs captain has been below his damaging best so far this season.
The 1991 Wallabies’ World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer this month described Hooper’s form as dreadful and questioned if the national vice-captain should even be in Cheika’s squad for the coming three-Test home series against England.
Michael Cheika, though, was having none of it when asked on Wednesday if Hooper was still his first-choice No.7.
“He played the last game there, didn’t he? So I suppose he’s in the box seat at the moment,” the Wallabies coach said.
“I suppose it’s a little bit disappointing for me to hear more of the language that’s being used as opposed to the idea because a guy like Hooper definitely doesn’t merit that type of attention.
“He’s doing his job for the Waratahs very, very well. He’s taken on a leadership role this year as well within an organisation that has changed a lot.
“I don’t need to go on the record about what I think about Michael Hooper. I think it will be seen through my selections.”
Cheika was enthusiastic about Israel Folau’s first couple of starts at outside centre, but wouldn’t disclose whether he would select him in that position or in his established role of fullback.
“He’s done well. It’s not an easy position to master in particular in defence,” Cheika said.
“There’s no doubt with the ball in his hand it will be just a natural thing with him to take on the defence.
“Defensively, I think he’s got his head around it pretty well and I’d say he’d be finding a different level of fitness required to probably to play in that position because you’re on the go the whole time.”
“That’s a really good development for him. It’s something that will help him in his football whether he plays 13 going forward or if he goes back to fullback.”
Utility back Kurtley Beale, who came off the bench for five of Australias’s seven World Cup matches, will be considered for inside centre for the England series, especially if incumbent No.12 Matt Giteau has a gruelling season in European club rugby.
“I’d say he’s right up there competing for it because I think he’s had a good season so far,” Cheika said.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Yeah but Hooper does 8 things, and Hooper and Pocock is more balanced than big dog and Pocock or bm and Hooper or any combo in oz that is not Hooper and Pocock. Until a hard no 8 puts their hand up.
Fin
Guest
I still have nightmares of him being at the back of a Tahs scrum on our goal line.
Cynical Play
Roar Rookie
Floki went mad in the end, didn't he?!
Crash Ball2
Guest
"It will be seen through my selections.” Invisible-forcefield-bubble-Teflon-strengthened-myopia.
jameswm
Roar Guru
So the Aussie coach sticks up for one of his incumbents? Nothing to see here.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah there is one with the tools to be a hard nosed, strong in tight no.8, who has quick enough feet, can offload and jump in the lineout. And I think he's 120kgs or so. Problem is he's been playing lock for the Rebels, who are back row heavy in their squad. I say get Timani into the squad asap (I think he was there last year) and work with him. He could be a top test no.8 within 2 years.
soapit
Guest
i think a lot of it starts when people pretend hes anything more than that digger
Machooka
Roar Guru
Nail... head... hit... hard and squarely!!! It's truely sucks Digger... and for me it's like when I see it I don't have any choice but to jump up and down on it.
Digby
Roar Guru
You know, sometimes the negativity surrounding Oz Rugby at times is mind boggling, particularly from within.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Well said Digger... and I know I can't say here what I would love to say about Dwyer's spray on Hooper!!
Old Bugger
Guest
Yep - agree with those positional choices. Either way, its a formidable back-row.
Fin
Guest
In that case I think Poey, Holloway and McMahon works better, but Poey Holloway and Fardy would also work. It's hard to say at the moment because Holloway is still such an unknown but I would find it hard to start him and Hooper together at test level. For mine Holloway looks really promising but I can't see Cheiks busting up a backrow that has worked pretty well to accommodate him yet, and I think you could use McMahon to replace either Hooper or Poey but not Fardy.
Old Bugger
Guest
Do you think Cheiks throws a curve-ball and decides its either Poey or Hooper but never both, on the field at the same time?? For me, there's a youngster (Holloway) running at No8 for the Tahs and I still believe, Cheiks should be looking at McMahon, to switch with Fardy, at No6.
Old Bugger
Guest
I would certainly hope so Digsy cos, he looks too baby-faced to use the long-drop, out the back.....
Paul
Guest
It's self serving rubbish from Dwyer that does nothing for the Wallabies or Australian Rugby in general at all. He's just reaching out for airtime. Hooper is out there with a brand new 6 & 8, plus a whole pile of other new players, as the Captain, and still performing at his energetic best. More "impact" will come when the pack lifts
Digby
Roar Guru
Yeah, fair point and we all have a tendency to compare players to former greats which is probably not the best way to go about things. Would have been interesting to see what Cheika may have done if Gill was staying and there was a viable 8 floating around as well. Still, some ridiculous depth in Australia at 7.
Woodsman
Roar Rookie
I think it's more the position than the player Digger. Our 7's with George Smith and Pocock the last decade have been very good at the breakdown, in a lot of ways negating the need for 1-15 to be proficient in turnovers/disruption. With hooper's weakness being our 7's traditional strength it leaves us exposed because very few others in the team have those breakdown skills. If he was an IC I'm pretty sure he would be hailed as the messiah by more than just NSWelshman.
Digby
Roar Guru
Once, there was a ship builder named Floki, he used to make the finest ships the Northmen had ever seen and allowed them to cross the open sea to plunder and pillage Wessex, Northumbria, East Anglia and Mercia. Not sure his views and knowledge would be relevant today, however.
Digby
Roar Guru
He is poty trained?
Digby
Roar Guru
I guess Hooper is just destined to be one of those players that polarises opinion. Not really sure why, fine player.