Michael Hooper has made light of his first try for Australia’s national sevens team on a landmark day in his bid to play at the Olympics.
The Wallabies great, who’s switched to rugby’s short format in a bid to go for gold in Paris, dived over for his maiden score at the Singapore Sevens on Friday as both the Australian Olympic-bound men and women’s teams flourished.
The men defeated World Series-leading Argentina 26-19 in their opening fixture, with Hooper making just a brief cameo appearance at the end, but the 32-year-old was in the starting lineup which then beat Canada 21-14 to effectively seal a quarter-final spot.
The 125-times capped former Wallabies captain was set up for the easiest of first-half scores with a neat offload from the outstanding Dietrich Roache from a scrum play, as he popped up in a familiar support role to plough over for a first sevens try to go with his 22 in the international fifteens game.
“I fell over the line well, didn’t I?” joked Hooper.
“That’s all I had to do – two metres out and I just had to fall over the line, so if Dietrich can give me a couple more of those offloads, I’ll be happy.”
Australia’s Michael Hooper scores a try against Canada on day one of the HSBC SVNS at National Stadium on 3 May, 2024 in Singapore. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
That was far from all he did, with Hooper also winning a key turnover in the second half as John Manenti’s side went on to prevail with other scores from Nick Malouf and Hayden Sargeant.
The win against a strangely sluggish Argentina outfit had been even more impressive, with James Turner going over for a double and Ben Dowling and Nathan Lawson also scoring before a late rally from the Pumas.
“Today we just wanted to get through out two matches really clean, be clinical and smart on pour defence which sets up our game,” said Hooper.
“With Argentina, we had to have really strong defence against great ball carriers, and the same against Canada, we fought back well into this one.”
Australia captain Madison Ashby races away from the Great Britain defence for a try in Singapore. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby
The Australian women, who are level at the top of the world series table alongside their serial New Zealand rivals, started their campaign by beating Brazil 27-10, featuring a hat-trick from Faith Nathan, and followed up with a superb eight-try 44-0 win over Great Britain.
Nathan grabbed two more tries while Maddison Levi made her total three for the day as she now moves to third all-time for most World Series tries for Australia.
Australia came into a tournament without their slawarts, captain Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Smale, for the first time in six years, with both being rested.
Yet they demonstrated there’s plenty of young talent coming through as 21-year-old Sidney Taylor scored her first try for Australia against the British.
Ben
Roar Rookie
Just watched nz men bounce Aus out in the semi...literally. Massive hit by Knewstub in the last minute sealed the deal. Smashed him bro!!!! Only reason i knew Hooper was playing was the commentator said so. Dont think he offers anything in this form of the game.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
I believe a slawart is distantly related to a stalwart. (Now there’s an interesting word - I wonder where that comes from).
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Good to see the write-up and the positive results. Well done MH! Questions: where's the crowd? What's a slawart?
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Why? Are you on it Gary?
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Interesting, good to hear.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Arg thrashed nz
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
My wife and I love watching the Aussie women's 7s team. They are absolute superstars and they play with great positivity and joy.
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
I love Hoops but he can't get any credit for the win over the Argies. We knew we were playing the no.1 side and I think we stepped up accordingly. Whereas the article nails it, the Argies looked flat. By the time they woke up there wasn't enough time left to catch up.
Gary
Roar Rookie
You’re a crack up Muzz .
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
He must be making a difference. It was boys vs men when they played Argies in Perth.
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Yep the Australian teams went well, as both were without key players. I honestly though that with no Caslick there to direct the women, they wouldn't be the same force, but thanks to all those Maori girls input, including Ashby, it turned out well.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
The girls looked lost without Caslick in that Brazil game.
PaddyBoy
Roar Rookie
Awesome results! Madison Ashby and the Levis are absolute weapons.
Old school rugby
Roar Rookie
Hooper is one of the greatest men of our rugby existence.