Warning: the following contains a theory that some conservative rah-rah fans may find disturbing.
We’ve all got at least one mate who talks so much rubbish, you often feel compelled to signal for the team doctor to come over and give them a concussion test. Their natural habitat is the pub. They get more brazen as the beer flows.
I’m probably one of them – I’ve got a catalogue of easy-to-ridicule, farcical, left-field propositions that have been thrown around like legitimate and sane ideas worth further discussion. You know, more madhouse than MENSA. Like a drunken darts player.
Well, the next theory came from someone who normally makes a lot of sense. So as ridiculous as it sounded at first, I thought it was worth hearing him out. And it wasn’t a six-beers-deep hypothesis, but one made with no excuse for incoherence.
“Michael Hooper doesn’t win enough turnover ball or slow the ball down for the Wallabies – Michael Cheika should turn him into a halfback!” he proposed.
Hooper is a freakish player. Few would dispute that. He’s tough, quick, skilful, fantastic in support, a brilliant defender, runs out the 80 minutes, and has great instincts. What about his covering tackle on Springboks centre Jan Serfontein on Saturday night? Class.
He wins a fair bit of turnover ball for the Waratahs. But at international level, it’s fair to say – most noticeably against the top sides – he’s not as dominant at the breakdown.
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He rarely seems to pilfer nor slow the ball down consistently. He doesn’t have the effectiveness to rival Sam Cane, Jaco Kriel, Ardie Savea or Sam Warburton.
Warburton’s inclusion at No.7 for the British and Irish Lions in the second Test against the All Blacks a few months ago was a significant factor in the tourists’ series fight back. Of course, Sonny Bill Williams got sent off, but the Welshman slowed a lot of ball down at the ruck, ensuring the Kiwis committed players to the breakdown that usually meant – with the Lions defending – they had fewer attackers to number up on.
If you wrote out the job responsibilities for an openside flanker, being a pest at the breakdown would be near the top of the list.
Even though he’s a very solid 101kg, Hooper maybe lacks a bit of size at Test level. It’s one of the few negatives you can level at the skipper, who as a 26-year-old is a seasoned Wallaby and been their best for a few seasons.
Is it too far-fetched to turn him into a halfback? Realistically, there’s more chance of Twiggy Forrest being handed the No.9 jersey. Plus Will Genia, at 29, still has at least a few more years in him and is in top form.
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But it could be done.
He’s got the pace and instincts. His defence around the ruck would be a huge asset. He’d be a rugged presence around the ruck to get his body over the ball if needed as that’s his natural habitat. He’d be handy sweeping as a cover defender, especially from set pieces.
His short passing game in close during phase play might be a problem – Genia’s short-passing subtlety is top-notch – but Hooper would put his hand up for plenty of hard carries.
Of course, his long passing and kicking would be the issue.
But he’s extremely skilful, more so than the likes of Cane, Savea, Kriel and Warburton, so he could develop a decent long pass.
And there are two reasons why he could probably get away with not kicking much: Cheika likes to keep the ball in hand and with Kurtley Beale back, he gives Bernard Foley a second kicking option – long and short.
When David Pocock returns next year, does Cheika keep Pocock, a phenomenal pilferer at openside flanker, at No.8 to accommodate Hooper? It’s probable and they have proven they’re a formidable combination.
Could Hooper become a No.9? Someone suggested he could be turned into a decent No.12 or No.13. It’s crazy.
I suppose when the Wallabies are struggling, desperate theories ensue. But then again, perhaps a more abrasive halfback might be the way to go. Shake up the system. Revolution, man. Expand the mind.
Rebellion
Guest
Chieka would never turn Hooper into a halfback as it would block another nurtured,undeserving Tah in Nick Phipps. Hooper is a good player but selecting him at 7 is like asking a bricklayer to perform general surgery. Pocock and Gill are the best 7's with daylight behind them.
John R
Roar Guru
The argument started as 'he can't get turnovers' Then it pivoted to 'he doesn't get the RIGHT turnovers' once the original argument was empirically proven to be false.
Armchair sportsfan
Guest
That's is true. Although the ARU are doing a good job at testing that assumption!
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Quade has a great long pass, plus kicking game !
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
what about bringing JOC back on a good beahviour bond to try out as a half? KP
Crash Ball2
Guest
Thanks PD. Kind words. Frustrated former centre. Always wished I was a forward.
Dodo Vita
Guest
"Nor does he have much pace"!!! Really? Have you ever seen Hooper play? Or, are you comparing him to Linford Christie?
Dodo Vita
Guest
Agreed. The main roles of a No. 7 are: explode from the scrum (on their feed) and give their 9, 10, 12 bloody murder; be the first forward to any breakdown of their backline or your own backline and clean out or pilfer/secure the ball; be there in head on defence, cover defence and last line defence to stop the advance; clean up opposition's bad lineout ball; explode from the scrum (on your feed) and support your backs in attack; charge down kicks; call scrum progress (ball out etc) to your pigs. It is a position that needs extremely rapid acceleration, a non-stop motor, excellent tackling technique, good hands, and an ability to walk a fine line with the rules. Hooper is by far our best 7. McMahon is the heir apparent. These people who want big plodding 7s have absolutely no idea about the position. They seem to be bitter that Hooper is such a well rounded player. And people suggesting a mid-career move to hooker or half back are being quite disrespectful to those specialists.
mikado
Guest
Yup. One of the most embarrassing performances ever.
adastra32
Guest
"I suppose when the Wallabies are struggling, desperate theories ensue." Yup.
Pavid Docock
Guest
Crash Ball 2. Thank you for your eloquent and considered opinion about the Pocock vs Hooper argument, and illustrating all your assertions with reasonable, balanced explanations and examples. Your comments are a better read than any article I have seen on the matter and they perfectly reflect how I have been feeling about it for the last few seasons. It's good to hear a point of view that I share conveyed so articulately. You sound like a backrower, or at least like you've played in the engine room somewhere! I think Highlander's comments are pretty interesting. However, as CB2 alluded to, I do agree that the "big moments" that Hooper supposedly lives for are symptomatic of a forward pack, and in turn rugby team, that is constantly in panic mode due to a failure to assert it's dominance at ruck time. This lack of regular success at securing quick ball and disrupting opposition rucks, cripples any ability to control tempo or possession. This was highlighted perfectly in the Rugby Championship game against South Africa on the weekend. I was surprised to read that many commenters were pleased with the result of Saturday's game, citing that "it wasn't a loss", "it was close and edge of your seat" and "it was an exciting back an forth spectacle". I personally found the game immensely frustrating to watch. It seem to me to be a stop/start match between two teams who showed very poor skills across the board. The difference between the two forward packs was that the South Africans were dominant at the collision and more aggressive at the breakdown. The only reason they didn't beat the Wallabies, was their lack of execution of simple skills. (And, as Highlander mentioned, the fantastic covering tackle from our openside flanker.) Now the balance of our backrow isn't the only issue our forward pack possesses. But getting it right, with the resources we have, is going to go a long way to fixing those problems in tight. I would love to see a proper openside replacing Hooper, but considering that the current crop of contenders may not be up to test standard (I still rate Colby Fainga'a btw), someone like Richard Hardwick should be given a proper go. I've seen him play 7 on occasion and he has size and aggression, and seems to pilfer better than most blokes. I don't really understand Cheika's obsession with undersized 6's (McMahon, Korczyk, Dempsey) who have a high workrate, but ultimately can't shift bodies effectively at ruck time, or hold their own in the set piece. Hardwick, with Lopeti Timani/Lukhan Tui at 6, and the very green Rob Valentini at 8 (or, sigh, Higginbotham if he can consistently lift his workrate...) would be a decent back row combination. And, if you really wanted Hooper in the team he could seriously put on some kilos and convert to hooker (I respect Nick Bishop, but I don't buy that all hookers need to be monsters in test rugby). It'll be a lot easier than a move to the backline - even though he positions himself there more often than not...
deadwood
Roar Rookie
Send Foley and Hooper to the same learn-to-pass classes and see who wins? Attendance wouldn't hurt either of them (or the rest of the team) regardless of any positional changes.
Frisky
Guest
Making Hooper WB captain certainly limits any experimentation. I have always thought that he should come on as a sub when the reduced opposition energy and speed levels would allow him more room to run amok. Let someone else do the softening grunt work- not his style.
Adsa
Guest
One advantage Hooper may have over your experience Armchair is that he will (hopefully) always front up to a game with the full squad of 23 players.
double agent
Guest
IT can NOT be done. It takes many years of practice to pass as well as an international 9. Even then some are a lot better than others. It's too late for Hooper to even think of it.
Blindfreddy
Guest
As soapit pointed out it was Macqueen who moved Bernie from FB to flyhalf. However he did play halfback in club rugby for Wests. Could be wrong but dont think he played junior rugby in this position. I played colts in Canberra against Gregan who was a flyhalf who moved in one. Finegan mentions his Wests HB roots here: http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/04/23/22/04/finegan-weekend-at-bernies
Charlie Turner
Guest
Very good!
Crash Ball2
Guest
I get that PK. Some - slightly tongue in cheek - poetic licence on my part.
Crash Ball2
Guest
For the record, I don't think Hooper should be a centre Markus. I think he should be an openside flanker - and compete for the Wallabies starting spot / bench spots against Australia's other best openside flankers / loose forwards respectively. But if Michael Cheika is determined to have Hooper in the starting 15 come what may, I would prefer that it was the backs rather than the forwards that accommodated him.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Crashball 2 - All I am saying it is not expected for opensiders to dominate collisions against the bigger forwards. Tackle them but not dominate collisions. It is a nice to have. I expect every other forward to though.