Hooper vs Gill

[Gnostic]

As I stated in the other thread, the fixation of Australian Rugby with fetchers contributes to the woeful performance at the ruck. Ever since George Smith Oz rugby has selected only fetchers in this position to the total exclusion of all else. I can agree Smith and Pocock are exceptional. Smith more so. Pocock has become easily nullified and apart from defence and sticking his hands in the ruck what does he do? He is very good at those two things but he has been nullified at part two of that role. It is past time for the Wallabies to look beyond fetching to players who can compete at a RUCK which in case you have forgotten involves use of the feet. That means all forwards will seek to drive past the ball. The Wallabies seek to play the ball with their hands at EVERY ruck and only rarely drive past. The Boks, Argies and the ABs rarely play try to "fetch" the ball and instead drive in to the rucks. All this decrying about body height is so much rubbish, when you look at the intent of all the players joining the ruck. They get there and stick there hands in for the pilfer. Go back and look tonight, from 1 to 8 they did this.

I exercise my Hynch inspired right not to vote, change the focus. In that case IMO Hooper has the better skill set to fill the modern "non-fetcher" 7 role and still be able to "fetch" when the situation is truly there.

 

[TOCC]

Yeah agreed that the trio of Hooper, Pocock and Gill all need to diversify their skills away from purely just been fetcher's, they need to be ball runners and they need to be effective in defence...

You only need to look at how McCaw has diversified his game, the fetcher aspect is only one of his skills these days.

I thought Beau Robinson was quite effective in this regard, whilst a fetcher by trade, his ball playing skills and strength in defence is impressive.

 

[Tordah]

You are quoted as saying his performance was "awful" in another thread..

No, I said the game was awful, and I made that clear in the brackets and it's even included in your quoting of my post.
I was just comparing Hooper's to Gill's game and said Gill wasn't amazing. Hooper was the best out of himself,McCaw and Gill today.

I think there's a huge difference in provincialism concerning the backing of players in your national squad when it comes to Aussies compared to Kiwis.
The Wallabies can't seem to close the gap between - especially - Reds and waratahs fans. certainly not with performances like the last two,anyways.

 

[Scotty]

Hooper was very good in the first 15, but only average thereafter. That first 15 coincided with the period that the aus forwards had the edge over the abs. Coincidence? I don't think so.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

Hooper was very good in the first 15, but only average thereafter. That first 15 coincided with the period that the aus forwards had the edge over the abs. Coincidence? I don't think so.

Hooper was good throughout

 

[Ruggo]

Hooper had a fantastic game. Well done

 

[Paradox]

Can't see why anyone would pick Hooper tbh, just a bunch of logic/math illiterates.

Actually, there's a lot of logic.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Hooper was a stand out tonight, but Gill made some fundamental mistakes when he came on. Hopefully he'll learn from that and emerge stronger. I think he's got bags of potential but tonight would have been a massive eye opener for him..

 

[tranquility]

I think prior to this season most people in the know in Australian rugby circles would have agreed that Gill was the better prospect of the two. However Hooper has had a fantastic campaign, and at this stage is far more physical than Gill, although Gill is the more natural footballer in my opinion. I am hoping as a Reds supporter that the edge in phsyciality hooper has is purely put down to the fact that he is over 12 months older and that they are both young. However it could easily be the case that Hooper will just be a more physical player than Gill. Phil Waugh was probably a more physical player than George Smith, however GS was a much better player. I am not saying that this will necessarily be the case with these two, however they both bring different elements to the game and hopefully they can be used in the same way we have used TPN and Moore over the coming years.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

I think prior to this season most people in the know in Australian rugby circles would have agreed that Gill was the better prospect of the two.

Not after his performance at last year's JWC, Hooper was a class above and had everyone on the lookout at the last of this season.

I am hoping as a Reds supporter that the edge in phsyciality hooper has is purely put down to the fact that he is over 12 months older and that they are both young.

Pretty sure he isn't

 

[Waylon]

Hooper was fantastic. He is incredibly dynamic and is a powerhouse. He gets to his feet very quickly after going into rucks or getting knocked down. He is very fast and very very fit. It is incredible to think he is such a young player. I was mightily impressed with his performance. He was not overawed. He played himself to a standstill and put in some massive hits and had some good carries.

The Pocock myth was exposed. Pocock is built like Tarzan but never hurts anybody. Hooper has the mongrel.

Big tick

 

[tranquility]

It has been said so many times already;

Gill DOB; 08/06/1992
Hooper; 29/10/1991

I hate to get petty like this. Based on those numbers which I just googled it looks like I exaggerated as the difference is only 8 months.

 

[DPK]

Hooper was very good in the first 15, but only average thereafter. That first 15 coincided with the period that the aus forwards had the edge over the abs. Coincidence? I don't think so.

You're right, I for one expected him to continue to dominate on his own. :

 

[TOCC]

No, I said the game was awful, and I made that clear in the brackets and it's even included in your quoting of my post.
I was just comparing Hooper's to Gill's game and said Gill wasn't amazing. Hooper was the best out of himself,McCaw and Gill today.

I think there's a huge difference in provincialism concerning the backing of players in your national squad when it comes to Aussies compared to Kiwis.
The Wallabies can't seem to close the gap between - especially - Reds and waratahs fans. certainly not with performances like the last two,anyways.

apologies I misread your statement and thought you said Gill was awful

 

[Swarley]

The Pocock myth was exposed. Pocock is built like Tarzan but never hurts anybody. Hooper has the mongrel.

This "Pocock myth" wouldn't have anything to do with him signing with the Brumbies, would it?

 

[Rugrat]

Gill will be a future captain of Australia.

 

[drewprint]

if you're satisfied with that performance,good on you. It wasn't bad for a test rookie, it was just that Hooper was so much better. And he didn't get bumped off a winger. Also, Gill should have been penalised for blatantly playing the ball on the ground with Owens standing right beside, but he inexplicably only blew a knock-on.

To be clear, medicore does not mean bad. It means mediocre. That's why it's called "mediocre". Mediocre.

The ball was out of the ruck.

 

[Scotty]

You're right, I for one expected him to continue to dominate on his own. :

I gave hooper second in the wallaby player of the match after Timani, so I obviously rated his performance throughout. I thought it was clear that I was pointing out that hooper's first 15 was fanatastic but made easier because the whole pack was also better then. It difficult to compare hooper and gill when the wallabies fell off the game in the second half. I certainly don't think the hooper clearly out pointed gill while both were in the field.

As to those not rating pocock. You have very short memories!

 

[Muttonbird]

Have Wallaby supporters given up on Pocock already? I know he's turned into a penalty magnet now but just last week was the best seven in the world. Now there are two more Aussies better?

 

[qwerty51]

Have Wallaby supporters given up on Pocock already? I know he's turned into a penalty magnet now but just last week was the best seven in the world. Now there are two more Aussies better?

Um I think only Waylon (a Force supporter) has. He's still the best 7 in the world.