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Opinion
It is now less than nine weeks until the Wallabies play South Africa in their first Test match of the season. Intrigue about who cracks the Australian starting XV builds by the week.
While certain positions seem sewn up, such as scrum-half and outside centre, the picture at hooker is far less clear.
Through 11 rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, it’s hard to pick a standout Aussie No.2. Several have been in good form, but none have cemented themselves as a certain Wallabies starter moving forward. Injuries and coach selections are also implicating on matters with a couple of experienced Wallaby hookers missing crucial game time.
The selection of three rakes in Eddie Jones’ 33-man Wallabies training squad last month provided some clarity as to who the front-runners are.
Or so we thought. It was also revealed that two other hookers were not considered for selection due to injury. Then one of the chosen three was scratched just before camp also because of injury, meaning one more had to be called up.
That makes six hookers who were either selected or considered by Jones. There’s probably a seventh in the mix who is still an outside chance of snagging the coveted gold No.2 jersey.
Here are the contenders with accompanying history and current form guide:
Porecki is Australia’s incumbent No.2. Although he missed the final Test of 2022, his eight starts last year were the most at hooker for the Wallabies. He would certainly have tallied more if not for multiple concussion-induced absences.
Porecki is a solid set-piece hooker. His 108-kilogram frame lends good weight to the scrum, and his lineout throws are generally straight and true. This SRP campaign he has contributed to a Waratahs lineout winning 87 percent of the time on its own throw – third best in the comp.
Dave Porecki (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
The 30-year-old is also among the Waratahs’ leading tacklers. He has notched double-digit tackles most weeks, doing so at a 91 percent success rate.
While offering little as a ball-carrier, Porecki is ever-present at the breakdown and has a knack for making timely contributions in attack. His latch and drive onto Izaia Perese leading to a try against the Highlanders is a recent example.
Missing another three games this season, including a third concussion in a year, is cause for some concern. Staying injury-free is Porecki’s key moving forward.
Fainga’a started five times for the Wallabies last year. A further eight appearances from the bench raised his career tally to 38 Tests – most among active Aussie hookers.
Fainga’s has been shut down since Week 3 of the SRP season due to an achilles injury. With just four games left, time is running out for him to get minutes under his belt before the Test season.
He is not alone. Fellow Wallaby front-rowers Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou are also currently rehabbing long-term injuries.
Coming straight from the training pitch to the Test arena is never ideal. The selectors may chance it with Bell and Tupou, but would they take the same gamble with an underdone Fainga’a?
Lonergan made four appearances for the Wallabies in 2022, raising his career tally to eight. His biggest impact came against Wales when he scored the go-ahead try before winning a turnover to clinch the game.
The Brumbies hooker continues to be an effective breakdown thief this season. His five turnovers won are the most among Aussie hookers. Lonergan’s tackling has also been excellent. He is averaging 13 tackles per start with a 96 percent success rate.
Tipping the scales at around 99kg, Lonergan is the lightest of Australia’s hooker options. It will be interesting to see whether this counts against him.
(Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images)
Coach Jones chose meatier hookers, such as Dylan Hartley and Jamie George, during his time with England. Both of whom played at or above 110 kilograms.
Lonergan is more similar in size to Harry Thacker. You may not have heard of the veteran Bristol Bears hooker. That is perhaps because Jones never picked him during his seven years at the helm.
Uelese was somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Jones’ April training squad. The 26-year-old has not played an international match since 2021 and has not started a single game for the Melbourne Rebels this season.
However, with solid contributions off the pine, as well as his still unfulfilled potential, there was enough of an attraction for Jones to at least look at Uelese.
It is only a theory, but Jones seems to prefer bigger bodies at hooker. It’s also noticeable that the top rakes in world rugby these days are a minimum of six feet tall and 110 kilograms.
Think Malcolm Marx, Dan Sheehan, Codie Taylor and the aforementioned Englishman. Uelese (6’2”, 120kg) is the closest that Australia has to that prototype.
However, while equaling them for size, Uelese has yet to match their feats on the field. Not consistently, anyway.
Can coach Jones bring out the best in him?
Mafi was not considered for Wallabies camp due to injury. This makes it hard to know how highly Jones rates the uncapped 26-year-old.
The Melbourne Rebels rake is having a solid SRP season. He has started all ten games in, arguably, his team’s most competitive position. Both Uelese and Anaru Rangi have been regular starters for the Rebels in the past but have both been unable to unseat Mafi so far this season.
Mafi is of good size (6’0”, 107 kgs), and has thrown well into the competitions second-most efficient lineout (88 percent). This is impressive on its own, let alone in the absence of Wallaby hooker Matt Philip for all the season so far.
Mafi’s biggest work-on is tackling. He has missed 12 so far this season pushing down his success rate to 85 percent – lowest among Aussie hookers. He does offer good presence over the ball, though, having won four turnovers for his team.
Faessler was a late call-up to the Wallabies training squad after Porecki was forced to stay at home because of an injury.
The 24-year-old has started all ten games for the Reds this season, just one year after making his SRP debut.
Faessler has thrown accurately at lineout time, contributing to a team success rate of 92 percent – tops in the comp. That’s a very good achievement considering that it’s happened without locks Luke Jones for all, and Angus Blyth for much, of the season.
(Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)
Faessler has the best running stats among the Aussie hookers. He leads the pack in both metres gained (166) and tries (six) this season.
While showing plenty of promise, Faessler has banked just 24 first-class games so far in his career. He will need to show Jones several points of difference for him to be selected over the more seasoned veterans.
Despite not making Jones’ training squad, Latu should not be counted out yet.
Many will remember that he was one of Australia’s best players at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. When in form, he is highly effective at the set piece and particularly good at getting over the ball to win turnovers and penalties.
But finding form is difficult with limited playing time. Latu has made only a handful of appearances for the Waratahs this season, all coming off the bench. The 21-test veteran is almost unpickable for national duties again unless he can force his way into the NSW starting XV before season’s end.
Latu’s other issue is discipline. He has kept a clean record so far in 2023, but there is always the risk of his hot-headedness from the past re-emerging. Jones will likely have zero tolerance for ill-discipline. Beating the best teams in the world is hard enough with 15 players on the pitch.
So, those are the seven contenders. For each of them, their remaining matches in SRP will be crucial for advancing their claims to be Jones’s first-choice hooker come early July.
Porecki, as the incumbent, is probably the favourite. Who is your top Aussie rake?
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.