With David Pocock off doing David Pocock things in 2017, the Wallabies selectors this year are getting a glimpse of what life might be like post-Rugby World Cup 2019.
By the end of that event, Pocock will be 31. Certainly nowhere near over the hill, but it’s fair to say he’ll be closer to the end of his career than the start.
Given he already qualifies for the Wallabies selection under the ’60 + 7′ allowance now, you can expect the overseas offers for his services from 2020 and onwards will come flooding in. He’s already had a taste, playing with Panasonic in Japan in the season just gone.
And with an overseas contract and big money comes pressure for overseas employers to curb his international availability. In short, any Tests Pocock plays after RWC2019 should probably be seen as a bonus.
But never mind 2020 for now, the openside problems for the Wallabies are much more immediate.
With Pocock currently out of the picture, 2017 could have been the prime opportunity for Liam Gill to gain some major international experience. When Gill joined Toulon for the next few years, I can imagine the table in the Wallabies’ selection room copped a thumping. Regardless of how he was used in recent seasons, Gill had to be firmly in the frame for 2017 plans.
And this is where the current situation starts becoming a worry.
It’s a given that Michael Hooper will wear the Wallabies no.7 jersey this year. Depending on Stephen Moore’s form leading onto the international season, Hooper could be the Australian Captain, too.
But who’s his openside understudy?
And more worryingly, who takes the Wallabies’ no.7 if Hooper, god forbid, was hit by a bus tomorrow?
Watching the Waratahs captain’s monumental performance against the Rebels last week, and another typically solid outing again on Sunday afternoon against the Crusaders rammed home one thing for me: Australia’s backrow stocks aren’t what they were not that long ago.
The hardest part about this consideration is just how quick the situation has changed, as outlined by the pars above.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika quite publicly stated that he was trying to talk Gill out of signing with Toulon last year, and even after Gill did sign, Cheika delayed his arrival in France by keeping Gill in the Australian squad. 2017 requirements had to have been a major reason for Cheika’s annoyance at the time.
So in thinking about the next in line behind Hooper, we can probably rule out 36 year-old George Smith, and 35 year-old Matt Hodgson. Hodgson is only just back playing in the last fortnight, and Smith is certainly playing well enough; you’d never fully shut the door. But with an eye to 2019, it should be pretty well jammed on both guys.
Colby Fainga’a, I’d suggest, is the next in line.
Like Hooper, Fainga’a has been a lone hand for much of this season, certainly among his side’s best and more consistent players over the opening rounds.
He doesn’t carry as much as Hooper – who does – but he averages around five metres per carry, only about a metre behind Hooper. He’s also managed a tackle bust every four or five carries, and has been a good link man between the Melbourne Rebels’ forwards and backs, when they have managed to get it right.
Defensively, Fainga’a has both made and missed fewer tackles than Hooper, but at a much higher success rate and with better tackle effectiveness, too.
Over the ball, the Brumbies’ Chris Alcock has the most pilfers, but I’d think he’d need to strong together more games before he truly entered the discussion. Fainga’a and Hooper have similar numbers of pilfers, but Fainga’a is well ahead in terms of penalties won at the breakdown.
It feels like he’s been in the game forever, but 2017 could be the season where Fainga’a takes his game to the next level. And that might be by necessity, given the current openside stocks, but at least he’s putting up a decent case.
If there’s a smokey here, then I think it’s a young guy who hasn’t actually worn the no.7 jersey this year at all.
Western Force backrower Richard Hardwick had been playing at No.8 this year, until this weekend just gone, where he dropped back to the bench to cover Hodgson starting at openside, and the very promising Isi Naisarani in his first start at No.8.
But Hardwick has still been playing like an openside, with he and fellow Western Australian local Kane Koteka playing a very similar 7-8 combination to what Hooper and Pocock played for Australia in recent seasons.
The NRC Player of the Final, and probably the dominant opensider in the NRC last season, Hardwick’s numbers this season are similar to Hooper and Fainga’a as well.
He hasn’t quite carried as much as Fainga’a, but makes more ground; he’s a lineout option, has given away significantly less penalties, and has the best tackle effectiveness of any Australian openside this season. He’s strong over the ball, too, forcing almost as many breakdown penalties as Fainga’a.
It’s worth remembering Cheika’s reasoning for bringing Brumbies scrumhalf Joe Powell into Wallabies camp last season; the same criteria would definitely fit for Hardwick, and if Cheika is genuinely wanting to build the talent pool, then the 22 year-old flanker is definitely worth looking at this season.
Watching Hooper at the moment, it’s very obvious that he shouldn’t be going anywhere near busses; not just for his own safety, but for the good of Australian rugby.
But regardless, it’s at least nice to know there’s a couple of ready-made alternatives in Melbourne and Perth, of all places, ready to grab an opportunity.
Timbo (L)
Guest
Higgers won't get picked because he won't play nice and do Hoops' chores for him,... In training. I am a Tah's Hater and I recognize this, I still put Foley, Gordon, Dempsy, Mumm and a few others in my squad, and before I get lynched, Mumm on the bench as a lock/6 utility. (I Tip Ross Haylett Petty for this job in a few years). Skelton, Hooper, Folau, Horne were like Teflon head lice last year, it didn't matter how badly they played they couldn't be extracted. It takes an injury for a golden child to be replaced.
Timbo (L)
Guest
He needs a new plan then, one that works with players outside of the NSW boarder. Oh yeah, and can win a game against a tough team.
Timbo (L)
Guest
By Bus, do you mean Julian Savea? Given recent selection trends, his bloated corpse would still be in the starting 15. At least then he wouldn't get cleaned out of a ruck like an office chair. My view of a number 7's duties: Quick around the field. Tackle breakout forwards First on Scene to Pilfer or protect a ruck. Push in a scrum. Push In a Maul Ball Carry in close Break through heavily tackles. Bonus: Primary Lineout Target. If I can Choose any player I want to fulfill these criteria, Hooper doesn't even make my top 10. On my "Out of Reach" list: Gill, Pocock, Quirke On my good but maybe a little Old List: Smith, Hodgeson In no particular order I would like to see any of these guys get a go: Jordy Ried, Colbie Fa'inga Chris Allcock Jerrard Butler Sean McMahon (pre-Injury) On My up and comers: Hardwick Brnyard Stunder Mafi Naisarani Then, Michael Hooper I can't have him in my side because he doesn't qualify for the Job. For all his great work and stats collecting, he will always need need the other 2 back rowers (Fardy and Pocock for example) to pick up the slack, heavy lifting in dark places. It broke Pocock and Fardy started to leak penalties under the pressure. He gets his A+ in attendance at the expense of his Number 8's Broken Bodies - Pocock, MacCalman and MacMahon, all injured in poorly defended rucks. On a side note, it will be great to see Big Dog Ben MacCalman back on Sunday after his scapula injury last year. If you look deeply into the stats, Hooper's tackles are against lightweight escaping backs and run meters are in the 12 channel, not from the base of the ruck like Fai'enga. The stats for the rest of his team changes as well. His number 10 is down on defensive tackles and his number 12 on run meters. I wonder why? Is he being beatified for poaching easy stats or compensating for poor performance? I think the Former. I would rather have a team of balanced players with broad skill sets. Specialists great in some areas, average or poor in others are a liability and not worth the benefits. Folau and Cooper fall into this category as well.
ukkiwi
Guest
Super impressed with Isi Naisarani - this guy looks dynamite. At 22 Hardwick should be right up in the selection thoughts. Not an obvious choice but stats often paint a picture (moneyball?)
piru
Roar Rookie
Would it really hurt to have a solid 10 who you know is not going to lose the game for you with a stupid pass, is a dependable kick at goal and has a decent general kicking game? If Lance isn't 'international level', then Foley isn't either.
tomxx
Re Headline - Could happen on Friday when they meet the Hurricanes
Bfc
Guest
One can tackle...one can't...
Bfc
Guest
And the ARU didn't think Liam Gill deserved a 'top up' contract, so he signed to play overseas....when compared to some players who got 'top up' contracts, this situation was nothing less than absurd.
Marto
Guest
QAdam Korcyk can play seven..Looks at his dimensuon Height: 1.92 m Weight: 102 kg
Browny
Roar Rookie
I'm not a staunch subscriber to the concept that, outside of the scrum of course, the number on your back indicates the role you must fulfill in general play. To me, it's about the sum of the whole pack. You need a mix of tight and loose runners, some ruck smashing beasts, linkmen, pilferers, lineout targets, etc. As long as the personnel in the pack can work together and meet all the requirements, I don;t care who's doing what. Some teams don't run a traditional pilfering 7 but opt for two 6's and an 8 or vice versa, maybe the hooker is great over the ball or they have several players in the pack who do an ok job and share the load. At least with that strategy you're not relying on one player who could be shut down by a good team (I'm thinking against the ABs when they chose to either target the other side of the field to where he was or run directly at him so he'd be the tackler and therefore drastically reduced his chances of disrupting the ruck, creating a penalty or turnover). Hooper's workrate, particularly in cover defense, is unrivaled in australian rugby. I;d much rather have the pilfering duties of the pack shared across a few other players (say Latu, McMahon, Fardy, Timani, etc) and keep him on the park. I'd even go as far to say that I don't care who the lineout targets are; it's doesn't necessarily matter if your locks are two shorter blokes who are average jumpers (think Timani) if you've got a couple of guys in the back row who are elite in that respect. It's pretty unlikely that the situation would occur, but it is feasible none the less. The whole 'this number on your back means you have to be this exact kind of player in general play' ideology seems confounding and antiquated to me. How often do people herald Kieran Read and Billy Vunipola as great 8's yet they're pretty different players with fairly separate skill sets and abilities. I don't see too many people complaining about Read playing too loose or Vunipola not being able to jump in the lineout.
Marto
Guest
He also dropped Scott Sio, Quade Cooper, Rory Arnold, Nick Frisby and Scott Fardy in 2016. Meanwhile Foley Phipps Folau Hooper who all were terrible at some stage were kept.. He even put Foley at 12 ..Yes.....Foley at 12.. ..A 75 kilo guy at 12 with no skill or power...He`s never played 12 in his life !!!!!!!!! ..and it showed.. Dean Mumm was continually selected as Michael is great mates with his dad. Their is no other reason
Browny
Roar Rookie
Well said, 'Hello Everybody'.
Hoy
Roar Guru
I agree with Bakkies... we SHOULD have more players that are better over the ball, but we don't. Simple as that. We have long relied on our 7 to do our jackling, so when we have a 7 that doesn't do that... we have no one. Or we had Fardy, but now we have no one. Latu might, if he gets a go, but he will not be picked ahead of the nations captain, though he isn't where he should be in form either. This thread might be over, but let me ask this... Sure Hooper does a lot of harassing outside backs and kick off receivers, and we get some benefit... has Hooper turned a game? Has Hooper won a game for us? And I don't mean simply by being the person who scored a try... Pocock single handedly won Australia the game against South Africa in the Quarters of the WC in 11. Hooper could not have done that. Pocock has influenced more games with his skills and ability that everyone now derides as old, and not necessary in the new age flanker, than Hooper has. People say "oh Pocock can't carry, so he is no good" Well Hooper can't ruck to save himself... doesn't that make him equivalently no good?
Max Power
Guest
ACL rupture I think and out for the season.
Browny
Roar Rookie
Don't stress, TT.. All good!
Bakkies
Guest
'We still await the Garry Sobers of flankers.' George Smith is that. He had the ball skills, often went it in first receiver and occasionally played in the backs for Manly. Pocock as a youngster was a straight running 12 typical of most under age coaches they didn't develop his passing game. Not sure if he played in the backs as a kid Séan O'Brien is another example of this. Atrocious passing skills and when he makes a break he runs away from his support rather than run towards it and look to pass.
Bakkies
Guest
White wouldn't pick him that's why he left the Brumbies told him straight to his face and chose Ita Va'ea due to size. Only after he left and a couple of bad performances from the team he had to bite the bullet. Hooper was playing as a proper openside back then too. It's mainly down to Cheika he is playing this way.
Bakkies
Guest
'just to slow the half-back down by a couple of seconds and risk a penalty' In a poor defensive system he needs to do the latter more. Fardy is the only one capable of doing it in the current side and he will be playing his last test season. Slowing down the ball is vital to allow the defensive system to realign.
Bakkies
Guest
'A lot of players can jackel without wearing the 7 jersey and even more to the point, it is just one way of winning turnover ball.' That's if you have the other players who can do the job. Blokes like AAC and Benn Robinson were good at it. Neither are there now and I can remember how bad the Wallabies were when Hooper was the main 7 selected in 2014. Absolutely mullered and it was a season to rival last year's. That's why Pocock is the main loss.
Bakkies
Guest
The Boks were up at least 23-7 and Burger and Bismarck were both stunned when they got subbed. The Boks changes and Pocock coming on to do Hooper and Higginbotham's jobs at the breakdown changed the test. It was only a last minute try that won the game in the end.