The impending Hooper vs Pocock Dilemma

[TOCC]

Folau had the same back. As Kearns said great slight to see backs like that.

Folau's happened when he was making a break, bloke had a hold of his jersey and it ripped off in his hand as Folau stepped past.. It happened right in front of me, I guess it could have already been ripped prior to that.


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[Scrubber2050]

It's just an endless argument

 

[ChargerWA]

It's just an endless argument

Fuck me scrubber. Come join us in 2015 whenever you are ready.

 

[Bullrush]

Now I am not an Aussie but I feel that if Pocock can get some sort of form together and stay injury free (fingers crossed) then he is likely to get that Wallaby 7 jersey, and maybe even captain. He comes across as a great role model and a great guy, both on and off the field. Which isn't something that all players manage. Most national teams seem to have a few dicks these day, so more people like Pocock would be great to see in the sport.

Shelts - everyone outside of Australia sees what a huge piece to the puzzle a fit Pocock is for the Wallabies. As good as Hooper is, I just don't think he carries that same fear factor as Pocock does.

As an AB fan, I'm always fairly confident that the ABs can limit Hoopers overall impact on a game. Pocock is a completely different story - you get the feeling that he has the ability to simply take over any given game in a way that few players on a team sport can do a la a McCaw or a Jordan or a Jarryd Hayne.

 

[formerflanker]

I thought Dunbar was playing down in Canberra. Who was stomping at the SFS?

I'm wrong - I meant Dowsett, reserve half.

 

[Ignoto]

Hopers alleged response was perfect - once the game is over then everyone can be buddy buddy

It seems Women, Gays or Street signs are safe with Hooper around!

 

[Braveheart81]

Shelts - everyone outside of Australia sees what a huge piece to the puzzle a fit Pocock is for the Wallabies. As good as Hooper is, I just don't think he carries that same fear factor as Pocock does.

As an AB fan, I'm always fairly confident that the ABs can limit Hoopers overall impact on a game. Pocock is a completely different story - you get the feeling that he has the ability to simply take over any given game in a way that few players on a team sport can do a la a McCaw or a Jordan or a Jarryd Hayne.

His form needs to be a lot better than it currently is to be back in that sort of consideration.

Pocock played 35 minutes against the Tahs and had one excellent pilfer but apart from that did very little.

He was prominent in his linking game between the forwards and the backs but both the Brumbies forwards and backs struggled to gain the impetus they needed during this time.

 

[Bullrush]

His form needs to be a lot better than it currently is to be back in that sort of consideration.

Pocock played 35 minutes against the Tahs and had one excellent pilfer but apart from that did very little.

He was prominent in his linking game between the forwards and the backs but both the Brumbies forwards and backs struggled to gain the impetus they needed during this time.

MoM in the first game this year, so long as he stays un-injured, I think his form will be up there.

I'd much rather face a Wallabies with Hooper than Pocock.

**Now I've said that, we'll probably play Australia in the RWC semi and Hooper will score the winning try with an amazing individual effort.....LOL

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I just want Pocock to stay on the paddock long enough to seriously apply the blowtorch to the other contenders. If he's fit, he'll be in the squad and maybe even starting, depending on the tactics of the day.

 

[Viking]

Shelts - everyone outside of Australia sees what a huge piece to the puzzle a fit Pocock is for the Wallabies. As good as Hooper is, I just don't think he carries that same fear factor as Pocock does.

As an AB fan, I'm always fairly confident that the ABs can limit Hoopers overall impact on a game. Pocock is a completely different story - you get the feeling that he has the ability to simply take over any given game in a way that few players on a team sport can do a la a McCaw or a Jordan or a Jarryd Hayne.

I agree with this. Still early days but I think the signs are there that Pocock can be just as good as he used too. Already a decent pilfer against the Tahs.

 

[Ruggo]

Shelts - everyone outside of Australia sees what a huge piece to the puzzle a fit Pocock is for the Wallabies. As good as Hooper is, I just don't think he carries that same fear factor as Pocock does.

As an AB fan, I'm always fairly confident that the ABs can limit Hoopers overall impact on a game. Pocock is a completely different story - you get the feeling that he has the ability to simply take over any given game in a way that few players on a team sport can do a la a McCaw or a Jordan or a Jarryd Hayne.

Let's face it, Ritchie McCaw is the benchmark test 7. I have yet to see Hooper trouble Ritchie. Pocock on the other hand is a different story. I think it is on the record that the opponents Ritchie respects the most are Dusitour and Pocock.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Fuck me scrubber. Come join us in 2015 whenever you are ready.

No worries Charger - I'll keep you in mind for a rainy day

 

[Dumbledore]

Let's face it, Ritchie McCaw is the benchmark test 7. I have yet to see Hooper trouble Ritchie. Pocock on the other hand is a different story. I think it is on the record that the opponents Ritchie respects the most are Dusitour and Pocock.

What does that matter though? Rugby isn't a one on one sport.

 

[Beefcake]

What does that matter though? Rugby isn't a one on one sport.

Pocock is one dimensional, so he pilfers and tackles - Hodgson and Gill too quite effective but without the muscle, and Pocock as a link man operates at a rudimentary level - compared to Hooper - and all of the aforementioned lack sound captain-type decisionmaking (organising/rallying team, onfield opportunities, relationship with whistle), to which I would say Hodgson prolly has the best experience.

While tis too early to say, I havent seen anything from Pocock, Hodgson, or Gill to challenge Hooper on what he has done in the last two years to date, to warrant any reasonable challenge for that starting openside jersey.

Its fair to say, Hooper role in the Tahs premiership, esp as fill-in capt, may have earned him stars and stripes with Cheika.

 

[Bullrush]

What does that matter though? Rugby isn't a one on one sport.

The man some consider the greatest rugby player ever, his opinion on who is a great player doesn't matter?

Joe Dumas will always be considered one of the best defensive NBA players ever to me because he's the one guy Jordan always said was the hardest to play.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Bullrush - I agree with you
I believe Richie IS THE BEST Number 7 ever to have played for the AB's

 

[Bullrush]

Bullrush - I agree with you
I believe Richie IS THE BEST Number 7 ever to have played for the AB's

I'll take that! Hehehehe

 

[Dumbledore]

The man some consider the greatest rugby player ever, his opinion on who is a great player doesn't matter?

Joe Dumas will always be considered one of the best defensive NBA players ever to me because he's the one guy Jordan always said was the hardest to play.

Not especially. It's interesting, but not particularly important. We all knew already that Pocock was a great player four years ago. A breakdown and defensive monster when the game and law interpretations were geared towards assisting that type of flanker.

He's been injured for the last two years, a timespan that's seen Hooper become arguably the best player in Australia. So while Pocock might have been that guy three or four years ago, he isn't right now. Can he be again? Quite probably.

But even if he does come back to full form in the next over the next few months it means you need to pick someone in the backrow who can get across the advantage on a reasonable basis - probably Higginbotham, a player the h8ers h8 almost as much as they do Hooper.

On balance, I'm happy with Hooper until Pocock shows such exceptional form that he demands inclusion.

 

[Bullrush]

Not especially. It's interesting, but not particularly important. We all knew already that Pocock was a great player four years ago. A breakdown and defensive monster when the game and law interpretations were geared towards assisting that type of flanker.

He's been injured for the last two years, a timespan that's seen Hooper become arguably the best player in Australia. So while Pocock might have been that guy three or four years ago, he isn't right now. Can he be again? Quite probably.

But even if he does come back to full form in the next over the next few months it means you need to pick someone in the backrow who can get across the advantage on a reasonable basis - probably Higginbotham, a player the h8ers h8 almost as much as they do Hooper.

On balance, I'm happy with Hooper until Pocock shows such exceptional form that he demands inclusion.

How many loosies were beasts at the last RWC and aren't today due to the law changes?

Hooper is nowhere near the game changer that Pocock was at the highest level. And I reckon the Wallaby forward pack is more in need of a hard man than a line-breaker. I reckon that Pocock is more than adequate at grinding the hard yards getting across the advantage line.

I'm sure I wouldn't be the only non-Wallaby fan who would prefer to see Hooper/Higgers in a starting line-up rather than Pocock/whoever's-next-in-line in the back-row.

 

[Train Without a Station]

How many loosies were beasts at the last RWC and aren't today due to the law changes?

Heinrich Brussow.