Hooper stats looking good

[The Rant]

Of course but if Pocock is fit for the EOYT he has to be there, Hooper comes off the bench.

Hard to go one way or the other. Hooper has pressed a real case for starting over a 'fit' pocock. Too be honest I would start hooper and sub him for posock at 50mins at least for the first game. Just imagine how pumped Poey would be to get his start back!! Could be like the welsh game in 2009 that was the changing of the guard between george and poey.

 

[Brumbieman]

Hard to go one way or the other. Hooper has pressed a real case for starting over a 'fit' pocock. Too be honest I would start hooper and sub him for posock at 50mins at least for the first game. Just imagine how pumped Poey would be to get his start back!! Could be like the welsh game in 2009 that was the changing of the guard between george and poey.

The one where Pocock had a reasonable first half, and then Smith came on and showed the world why he's arguably the best 7 of all time, landing a good half a dozen turnovers in one half of rugby?

 

[en_force_er]

Given that Dennis hasn't impressed thus far, we need to plan for life after Samo, and Higgers can jump in lineouts, on the Spring Tour we could play:

6. Hooper
7. Pocock
8. Higgers

It ticks the boxes that Aussie back rows like. Namely, it has a specialised pilferer, 2 ball runners, and a lineout jumper.

I see no obvious issue with this back row and they are the most deserving players.

 

[Braveheart81]

If Palu is healthy, our best backrow is him at 8 and Higgers at 6.

If we're going to stick to a 5/2 bench, it is probably Gill that gets squeezed out when Pocock comes back. You only want one out of Hooper and Gill on the bench and Dennis probably keeps his spot because he can play 6, 4/5 or 8.

 

[en_force_er]

If Palu is healthy, our best backrow is him at 8 and Higgers at 6.

If we're going to stick to a 5/2 bench, it is probably Gill that gets squeezed out when Pocock comes back. You only want one out of Hooper and Gill on the bench and Dennis probably keeps his spot because he can play 6, 4/5 or 8.

Palu is certainly the kind of player we need but he hasn't shown the consistent level of form we need for many a year.

Pocock and Hooper play better for longer and more consistently.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

The one where Pocock had a reasonable first half, and then Smith came on and showed the world why he's arguably the best 7 of all time, landing a good half a dozen turnovers in one half of rugby?

They both had great games. Pocock could have been MOTM on the basis of his first half alone. I would argue that George is not the greatest 7 of all time, brilliant though he was. Michael Jones and McCaw would surely have pretty strong claims to that crown.

 

[Braveheart81]

Palu is one of the very few players we have that has the physicality to be effective at Number 8.

I still think we need him until we can find someone else who is big enough and physical enough to play there.

So far, Higgers has shown he doesn't have that capability against the best sides.

I agree that Pocock and Hooper play better for longer and with more consistency but they're not competing for the same position as Palu.

 

[Scotty]

Higgers definitely hasn't shown it, but many would argue that Palu has never shown it vs the ABs either.

 

[waratahjesus]

Hate to say it for fear of a lynching, but we miss a fit rocky Elsom.

 

[en_force_er]

Hate to say it for fear of a lynching, but we miss a fit rocky Elsom.

Agreed.

I think Dennis could have Elsom's game in time, we're expecting too much too soon. Read/Messam for example were kicking around the scene for ages before he developed to an international standard.

Us Aussies expect a lot very quickly.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Hate to say it for fear of a lynching, but we miss a fit rocky Elsom.

Absolutely we do, but he hasn't been properly fit for three years. Time to move on.

 

[USARugger]

Hate to say it for fear of a lynching, but we miss a fit rocky Elsom.

That European vacation seems to have ruined his body prematurely, as sad as it is

 

[Godfrey]

I can't decide where I stand on this. Hooper has obviously been fantastic. In the early part of the year I was convinced the Gill was the better option - who knows what the future holds but I don't think many would argue that point at the moment in time. It might be an idea to have something like:

6. Higgers
7. Pocock
8. Palu

And when Palu goes hard and loses effectiveness at about the 50 minute mark, bring Hooper on. Nearly any combination of some of the backrowers we have would make me happy though.

 

[Braveheart81]

I can't decide where I stand on this. Hooper has obviously been fantastic. In the early part of the year I was convinced the Gill was the better option - who knows what the future holds but I don't think many would argue that point at the moment in time. It might be an idea to have something like:

6. Higgers
7. Pocock
8. Palu

And when Palu goes hard and loses effectiveness at about the 50 minute mark, bring Hooper on. Nearly any combination of some of the backrowers we have would make me happy though.

Fit and in form, I think this is easily the best back row the Wallabies can currently put on the park. Obviously fit and in form is a hard thing to put together as we've only managed this combination 2 or 3 times in the whole year.

I think the biggest thing we need to find is how to create impact at number 8 once Palu goes off. I thought Higgers did that well coming on for Samo, but if he's already played 50-60 minutes at 6 then he won't provide impact at 8.

I'd say number 8 is close to our weakest position in terms of depth alongside halfback.

 

[Slim 293]

It seems that most of our 8 options are more suited to lock/6.

I'd like to see Fotu Aeulua have a decent, injury-free season as he's probably the only other option out there that offers the same attributes as Palu, albeit for just 50 minutes.

 

[en_force_er]

It seems that most of our 8 options are more suited to lock/6.

I'd like to see Fotu Aeulua have a decent, injury-free season as he's probably the only other option out there that offers the same attributes as Palu, albeit for just 50 minutes.

If you can only get 50 out of Palu I doubt you'd get that much out of Fotu.

He's quality though and I've never seen him raised in a Wallaby context.

 

[Jnor]

Given that Dennis hasn't impressed thus far, we need to plan for life after Samo, and Higgers can jump in lineouts, on the Spring Tour we could play:

6. Hooper
7. Pocock
8. Higgers

It ticks the boxes that Aussie back rows like. Namely, it has a specialised pilferer, 2 ball runners, and a lineout jumper.

I see no obvious issue with this back row and they are the most deserving players.

Only issue is Hooper's size for mine, he is not a big man by any stretch.

As for Fotu, I think he's a great option but let's see how he goes next year - how many years has he got left in him btw?

 

[en_force_er]

Only issue is Hooper's size for mine, he is not a big man by any stretch.

As for Fotu, I think he's a great option but let's see how he goes next year - how many years has he got left in him btw?

It's not about size in my eyes, it's what weight they play at. Hooper plays like a much bigger-weightier player.

Fotu is late 20s but he has a younger playing age because he took an unconventional route to professional rugby, less hard hits on the metre.

 

[tranquility]

Robbie's views on the matter;

"There's obviously a lineout consequence (with Pocock at No.8) but he's got the skill set in terms of passing, he's one of our best passers to be fair - there's some good scope there," he said, also praising the rise of back-up No.7 Liam Gill.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/wallabies/wallabies-captain-james-horwill-ruled-out-of-entire-european-tour-david-pocock-to-make-his-return/story-e6frf55l-1226500149987#ixzz29uTL4lKF​

 

[Dan54]

Yep en-forcer, I agree by the size they play, although the old a good big man is going to beat a good small man still rings true, but I actually think Hooper is still young and quite capable of putting on a few kilos to combat the problem.