Tom Hooper continued his rapid rise towards a World Cup starting berth as a Wallabies backrow without Michael Hooper looks apparent – but coach Eddie Jones still has plenty of issues to resolve ahead of the tournament.
The Wallabies slumped to 0-4 in the second coming of Jones as coach in a game they will feel they should have won against a much-changed All Blacks team bailed out by replacement halves Aaron Smith and Richie Mo’unga as well as dominance in the scrum against an Aussie pack missing too many front line front-rowers.
Hooper has been the Australians’ find of the season – but Jones hinted he expects to see more physically from him.
“Yeah combative,” said Jones. “He’s a young guy at the start of his career. He’s got the capacity to play seven, he’s probably a better six, but certainly in the right conditions he can play seven.
“Considering he played that one Test against South Africa and he only last 20 minutes, missed Argentina, came back and played in the two Tests against New Zealand and he’s still only got half a body, mate.
“We’re still trying to find the other half of his body, so when he gets the full body he’s going to be some sort of a monster. We’re looking for it. If you find a half a body roaming around somewhere, bring it back into our dressing room.”
Jones didn’t elaborate on what he meant, but it suggests the coach feels the 22-year-old has strength to add.
Hooper’s skipper Tate McDermott was also impressed.
“I think what we’re seeing, guys like Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight, those boys are coming out of their shells, particularly Hoops,” McDermott said. “What was it? His third or fourth game and he was everywhere tonight. He was a brick in defence and he’s finding his feet in the attack side as well. Not only Hoops, but I thought the back-row was outstanding.”
Hooper got the rave reviews on The Roar Rugby Instant Reaction Podcast as well, with Jim Tucker believing the Wallabies’ World Cup backrow is locked in.
“I’m seeing the positive signs for the Wallabies and from this season the headline for me is Super Hooper,” said Tucker.
“We’ve been looking to uncover a six of quality and we’ve found one in Tom Hooper. He just goes for a full 80. There was no given on that try he scored. That’s six hard metres out from the line and he’d not going to be stopped.
“You flick down to the 76th minute and he’s ripping a ball out of the middle of a maul and getting something rolling and then having a hit up just after that, made a turnover.
“He’s a real missing element that Australia has been wanting to find. They haven’t quite grooved the back row but maybe this is the backrow that we start the World Cup with [Fraser] McReight, Hooper and Rob Valetini.”
Harry Jones agreed.
“Tom Hooper was thrown into the deep end in Test rugby, fed to the lions up in Pretoria,” Harry said on the podcast. “Smashed out of there and was a tackle machine for a while, but I think he found his attack. If we’re looking for some kind of Fardy-esque character, he might be it.”
Queensland Reds hooker Matt Faessler also impressed. He was a late replacement in the 23 for Jordan Uelese who suffered a knee injury in training on Friday and missed out. Dave Porecki’s first half injury gave Faessler a debut.
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“Matt Faessler is a big stocks rising. He’s on the plane to France now,” said Tucker.
“His throws, bang all on the spot. If you’ve got a choice between him and Uelese – and I think they’ll both go – it’s got to be Faessler ahead because Jordan’s just a little bit shy on the trigger when it comes to the perfect line out throw.”
Eddie Jones was pleased for the Reds hooker and revealed the moment he found out he was in the squad.
“Faessler was having a nice non-23 breakfast,” Jones said. “He had a bit of bacon in his mouth when he found out. We were still hopeful Jordie might get through.
“He’s our third string hooker and he’s really come on. First cap, you had Zane Nonggorr out there who’s our fourth or fifth tighthead playing his second game, so they’re great experiences for those young guys.”
Tucker’s other bright sparks was Jordie Petaia who has “really taken his chances the last two weeks.
“He did some really lovely things. Nice shuffling footwork, that little part in the offloading game that the Aussies have elevated today when they were on the front foot.
“There was one run there where he just got his legs rolling and moving in big traffic. So I think he has really nailed down a spot. If Len Ikitau comes back it’ll be on the wing but he’s just slotted into outside centre really well.”
Brett McKay was happy for Faessler to show his worth ahead of Thursday’s World Cup squad selection.
“Faessler handled it perfectly and really pleased for him because I was thinking that I can’t believe that we’ve seen this guy in the squad for a month now and he’s not got a chance. And you’d hate to have thought he won’t be selected in the World Cup squad having not even had a chance to show what he could do,” said McKay.
McKay was also impressed by Andrew Kellaway’s efforts at No.15 since replacing Tom Wright.
“Andrew Kellaway is looking more and more comfortable at fullback which I’m really pleased to see,” he said.
Eddie Jones added: “He’s had two really good games. Consider he hasn’t played for 12 weeks, that’s a pretty fair performance. For him to back up from fullback in that game and produce a really good, solid performance is a real feather in his cap.”
The 22-year-old Carter Gordon was improved on his first start in Bledisloe I while his replacement off the bench, Quade Cooper, came up with a key error to give the All Blacks the chance to win it at the death.
Cooper did, however, land a pressure penalty, while Gordon missed an easier one at a critical time.
“I feel like there’s a big decision coming as to whether it’s Gordon or Cooper and I think Gordon again has shown well and truly enough to say that ‘I’m the guy going forward,’” said McKay.
“Cooper has done a lot for this team, in his second or third coming as a Wallaby flyhalf, but he hasn’t been able to have the impact certainly coming off the bench.
“I think Carter Gordon is just doing everything asked of him and more at the moment, which has been fantastic to see.”
Harry Jones felt that Gordon, as well as he’s handling No.10, is missing a key attribute.
“No debate on how wonderfully he played and he looks really good, but in Test footy, especially in knockout matches, making your kicks is job number one for the kicker. You saw the difference in Quade, even with all the distraction of not finding the bloody tee, he still slid that over from a great distance.”
Jim Tucker is concerned that Eddie Jones hasn’t sorted out the pecking order in the halves having “that horrible hint that we’re heading towards 2019 gain, where we had [Bernard] Foley and [Christian] Lealiifano and [Nic] White and [Will] Genia and we’re chopping and changing the halves.
“Eddie’s going to have to be a really strong coach to see through the cloudiness of the nines and 10s and stay true to a partnership. He can’t just go ‘OK, I’ll have one of those and one of those’ and put them together for the first time.
“The French – [Antoine] Dupont and [Romain] Ntamack – they’ve been playing blindfolded in their sleep together for years.
“And here we are at the World Cup, and are we going to have the young guys with energy or do we have the older plodders and planners who can manipulate the game? So it’s a really tricky situation and we can’t solve it without time and we haven’t got time.”
McKay said he wanted to see “Nic White start with Carter Gordon and play the same game that McDermott has played because we know he can.
“The Brumbies have played off 10 for years we know that he can play that game. I want to see McDermott play with Cooper and see how they pair up. I want to see Ryan Lonergan get a shot here. If he’s the third halfback he’s going to be making his Test debut at a World Cup, which is a massive call.”
campo11
Roar Rookie
yep what a great idea, don't go! would have been same result. lol
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
In my very humble opinion the whole cohesion of the players dropped when Nick White and Cooper came on... but then I'm not a coach..
ORF
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Particular against a team that very rarely concedes tries from driving mauls.
ORF
Roar Rookie
For box kicks to work, they have to be well directed and contested. There was one in the last 10 minutes that were neither. In a close game with so little time left we needed to pin the ABs in their half. Instead we simply handed over hard fought possession.
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
What we need, and I reckon Hamish would be right behind this, is a national search for next-gen Wallabies that would be run as a reality TV show. Each week, the contestants would have to engage in a series of challenges. It could be based on the best elements of Ninja Warrior, Takeshi's Castle, Survivor, or even The Bachelor! Maybe even a bit of rugby. It's a ratings winner for sure!
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
There are several well-credentialled players who have slipped from sight like Sio and BPA and Latu. I heard BPA had a broken ankle. It would be interesting to know whether they want to disappear or were overlooked.
SlytheeTove
Roar Rookie
Well I hope you're right, at his peak NW was comfortably our best 9 since Genia.
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I think he meant JP would move to the wing not Ikatau. But Tucker hasn't been able to properly structure a sentence or correctly name a player for my entire life of reading his Reds Newsletter-esq articles. Not sure who he thinks would be dropped for JP on the wing. The most in form Marky mark or John eales medalist MK
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
I wasn’t too clear on some of my comments, sorry. But I have seen these guys as youngsters, school and club , and they just stand out. When I was a kid , we had no TV and sport was climbing trees, and getting into all sorts of shit, probably lucky to be alive. Sport is a luxury. Any how just want us to win. Thinking laterally.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Yes Sio needs call.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
And here we are at the World Cup, and are we going to have the young guys with energy or do we have the older plodders and planners who can manipulate the game? Nic White covers 50% of those last two characteristics. Here’s a hint, I’m not thinking planner.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Tom Hooper needs season in South island N.Z complete package than..
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Yes critic of pack but they stood up.Didnt watch full game I got time difference Thailand N.Z stuffed right up but Mcreight Hooper Valentini look balanced with two genuine jumping locks.Prob just need Toupou back and keep Faessler and we are there.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Think the Ella brothers are in there 60s now but agreed maybe bring Mark back..
gatesy
Roar Guru
Slow and steady - we are getting there, Watched the 3 overnight games, SA looked good against Argentina. I don't think any of the others really stood out, perhaps Scotland seemed to be much improved. Wales, too, but I'm not convinced they played well enough to be a major threat in our pool. Ireland went well without a lot of their regulars, so it was really a trials weekend. Having said that, I confess, I only watched the Stan mini's so may have missed a bit. But i did notice that a lot of the tries were scored out wide, and they didn't waste a lot of time going up the guts, with ball in hand.
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
I think that if White is going to box kick and I agree that he shouldn't have ! . Then he needs to have Marky Mark at the ready and re-train himself to kick higher and closer to the sideline so that : - A. Marky Mark can utilise his aerial skills to catch or tap back B. Or We can force them to put the ball out and win a lineout C. Or don't box kick !!
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
Is Skelton trying to, . Swim-through. to their ball carrier ??
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
Scott Sio . too ... ?
Check-side for the boundary
Roar Rookie
Tate w. Cooper should start. . IMHO ...
WEST
Roar Guru
Agree Ssmu is awesome :thumbup: