At the beginning of the year, while envisaging a pre-COVID season, Dave Rennie explicitly highlighted that Michael Hooper would need to earn his starting Wallabies position and captaincy, which had previously been bestowed without question.
Rennie’s motives to pressure Hooper’s performance are admirable, although his decision is widely criticised due to Hooper’s 100-plus Test caps of experience at an international level.
Nevertheless, the first game of the reformed Australian domestic competition has proven that Rennie’s decision to base Hooper’s selection into the starting Wallabies side on performance has breathed life into his fellow flanker countrymen.
This chance to represent Australia and play under a Rennie-led Wallabies side has created a domain for healthy competition.
Throughout the first game of the reformed Australian domestic competition, which featured a Reds versus Waratahs match-up, Hooper failed to rally around his team and lead from the front as he usually does in close finishes such as this one.
He conceded a crucial penalty in the 70th minute that would have put the Reds in the driving seat, if not for their continued goal-kicking woes.
There is a range of factors that may have impacted his performance, especially since the outbreak of COVID has greatly affected rugby as a whole to the extent that we are granted an unprecedented series of events that weigh heavily on the players.
However, it should be highlighted that in this particular match, competition for a chance to receive the honour to represent Australia in Rennie’s Wallabies pack ramped up. What was most intriguing is that the younger players were the ones that have stepped up to the challenge of taking on the Wallabies’ regulars and appeared comfortable doing so.
Is Hooper’s gold jersey under siege? (Photo by David Ramos – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Hooper’s teammate and blindside flanker, Lachlan Swinton, had a stellar performance and one that I’m sure Rennie has noticed. At 23, this is his second year playing at the Super Rugby level.
Within ten minutes of returning from the halftime break and in a defining moment of the game, which offered the Waratahs further opportunity to come away with the win, he linked up with Jack Maddocks through an on-target inside ball in an inspiring example of set-piece play.
Swinton also tackled superbly and it seems that both he and the Waratahs’ tighthead, Harry Johnson-Holmes, have been hitting the tackle bags while in isolation, because they perfectly executed some terrific tackle technique as a duo, which quite often stifled the Reds’ attack and crushed their momentum.
This is not surprising because in the six pre-COVID games of the 2020 Super Rugby season, Swinton achieved a 93 per cent tackle completion of his 70 attempts. After his showing in the Australian domestic competition, there is no doubt that Swinton has etched his name in Rennie’s list of players to watch, although whether he would play alongside Hooper is uncertain.
Throughout the game, Swinton’s opposite number and Reds captain, Liam Wright, displayed his ability to expertly lead his team to a close-fought victory while sporting a magnificently grown isolation beard. This is even more admirable considering the recent issues concerning certain players within the squad terminating their contracts with the Reds for whatever reason.
Playing out of position so that the young gun Fraser McReight could be unleashed on the Reds’ opponents, he never looked uncomfortable on the field. He showed his brilliant game awareness by almost stealing a try from under the Waratahs’ noses until he was deemed to be slightly offside by the referees.
His fellow flanker, Fraser McReight, also won an immensely crucial ruck in the dying minutes of the game, which guaranteed the Reds’ victory. At 21, McReight’s ability to make an impact in the crucial stages of the game is certainly a trait that Rennie would like to foster. Based on the performance of this first game back after COVID-19 mandated isolation, the Reds’ flankers have proven themselves more than capable of filling the boots of Michael Hooper if need be.
Rennie failing to guarantee any Wallabies spots ensures that depth is created and his strategic opening of Michael Hooper’s previously untouchable position in the team aims to foster the progression of the future Australian flankers.
Guessing who can and can’t play representative rugby can be a tedious endeavour, however, what is certain is that hotly contested, exciting competition for Wallabies caps will ensue throughout the entirety of the Australian domestic competition.
Jimmy Little
Roar Rookie
That’s just my honest opinion bro, maybe I’m biased being a Kiwi and seeing our blessing of depth. And also, I would like to add. I actually like him as a player. And as a human being. But I just don’t think he’s anywhere near as good as everybody else makes out.
WallabyJ
Roar Rookie
I would say Hooper has had plenty of stellar performances! His work rate at state and national level is outstanding - he pops up all over the field making effective tackles and linking with players in attack, and whilst not making as many turnovers as Pocock, definitely makes it to an extraordinary number of rucks and competes for the ball which has the added defensive advantage of slowing the ruck speed down.
Locky
Guest
Gary Hoopers captaincy lost that Dunedin game in 2017.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Hahahaha if only we had an Eales or Horan available right now. Wouldn't that be great?
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate I agree with that 100% and I think all of the players will improve under Rennie. I'm certainly hanging out for it
Rich1234
Roar Rookie
Agreed JC. But we are kind of heading into a new era or at least I hope we are re are not exactly that many wonderful and international experienced wise heads available. Unless of course we relax the Giteau Law. Firstly, I hope that Rennie picks the team on form whether that includes experience or no experience. And secondly, 8 hope that the captain comes from those picked and not picking a captain first followed by the team. Unless of course your name happens to be J Eales or T Horan. Cheers
Rich1234
Roar Rookie
That’s a fair reply JC and thanks for that. Whilst I certainly don’t think he is as dreadful as you say I appreciate your opinion. I will watch more closely next time with the points you made in mind. I think it will be interesting to see how he goes under Rennie if he gets picked. I Don’t think we saw the best of many players under Cheika because he was such a poor coach during his time at the wallabies. Cheers
LifestyleSpecialist
Roar Rookie
One thing we don't have is all the player GPS stats and really minute detail around things like time to get back on feet and in line (Eddie Jones favourite metric). Expect Hooper is second to none in all these. Easy to go, he didn't get a turnover that match clearly he had an off night but it's so much more complex than that. Think Hooper is really up against it in that the Tahs pack is probably the worst at the breakdown (offensive and defensive) in the comp so it makes his job even harder. Offensive ruck a particular problem with the support players late and poor accuracy. That's why McReight got turnovers, because Tahs support players were pish. If he does it against the Brumbies then fair play. Still, Hooper isn't a walk in for the 7 jersey but I wouldn't put money on him losing the starting spot either!
Morsie
Guest
but he doesn’t do anything in attack. Threw a pretty nice inside ball for Maddocks.
Davos
Guest
We have been saying this for 5 years about Hoops and no one listens. Hopefully Rennie watches him closely and figures that out.
Gav
Guest
Tupou is a consistent scrummager. He just has poor discipline. Thorn said he`d work on players discipline. It`s not working on Thor to be fair.And i wouldn`t go far as to say he is Taniela thug. That`s a bit rich.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
So Koroibete is locked in but not Toomua? I like the guy but I really don’t think Koroibete is a lock. If Toomua had played for the Tahs in 2014 rather than the Brumbies we would have seen a lot more than him. He was one of our top performers under our last good coach in Link. As soon as Cheika came in he mostly disappeared.
Matt
Guest
Toomua locked in ? Pleeeeeeeeeeeease. The dude could barely lock down a spot in a Wallaby jersey for the last 7 years. He is over rated and is past his best which was 2013 to 2016.He has again been poor in super rugby in 2019 and 2020. Locked in : AAA Thor White Kurindrani Faaingaa Slipper Naisirani and Koribiete. Probably locked in. Hooper Samu Sio Liam Wright Powell Philip JOC Neville Valentini Banks DHP LSL. Bolters Blyth McReight. Uelese Rangi Wilson Tom Wright Muirhead Lolesio Simone Never to be selected Toomua Hanigan Robertson Simmons Dempsey Gordon Hunt
piru
Roar Rookie
Shouldn't every player's starting spot be at risk?
Locky
Guest
How good was that Highlander backrow on the weekend. Useless as an ashtray on a motorbike to be fair.
Gary
Guest
What was the final score in that 2017 Dunedin game? 3 years ago?
Locky
Guest
Hooper was easily outplayed by the 19 year old number 7 MCreight.
Frank
Guest
Why is Hooper guaranteed a start? No player has mastered the ability to look so busy yet achieve so little imo. Like a kid on red cordial...
Frank
Guest
I thought Naisarani went completely missing in the world cup. Havent seen him this year
Frank
Guest
I fully agree with everything you say JCM. And the millions that RA gifted Hooper despite any guarantee of form or even being the best No. 7, is up there with the other of RA's clusterf#cks being Folau gate.