Pocock is awesome at the core skills of a flanker - pilfering, slowing rucks, cover defense, tight defense.
McCabe is average to poor at most of the core skills of a 12 - running hard, footwork, passing, tackling.
McCabe is average to poor at running hard and tackling, is he?
Tight defence? Traditionally your openside flanker has been ideally your quickest forward. I'd consider hitting wider rucks, cover defence and defending the channel between the forwards and the backline to be more of a core openside skill than tight defence. You've got 5 tight forwards who aren't quick enough to get wide and are susceptible to being stepped by fleetfooted backs. I always assumed you wanted them defending closer to the ruck.
Gill is a very good player but I believe hooper is exceptional.
They have both played in 14 games, these are their current stats on rugby stats site.
Tries 3:2 hooper
Try assists 3:0 hooper most in super rugby for backrower
Line breaks 10:3 hooper 2nd most of all players in super rugby
Tackle busts 27:10 hooper 3rd most for backrower in super rugby
Offloads 6:3 hooper
Running Metres 708:383 hooper 18th best all players in super rugby
Pilfers 9:5 Gill, gill 1st in Super Rugby hooper 4th best backrowers
Forced turnovers 5:5 each 3rd best backrowers in super rugby
Tackles 188:155 hooper 3rd best in super rugby
In summary gill has 4 more pilfers, whilst hooper has 1 more try, 3 more try assists, 7 more line breaks, 17 more tackle busts, 3 more offloads, 325 more running metres, and they both have the same forced turnovers. Hooper has achieved all this with only 3 more runs than Gill.
But should anything happen to hooper we are very lucky to have gill as a backup.
Good at tackling, average at effective hard running.
He runs hard but at international level he doesn't make much of an impact with it.
Tight defence? Traditionally your openside flanker has been ideally your quickest forward. I'd consider hitting wider rucks, cover defence and defending the channel between the forwards and the backline to be more of a core openside skill than tight defence. You've got 5 tight forwards who aren't quick enough to get wide and are susceptible to being stepped by fleetfooted backs. I always assumed you wanted them defending closer to the ruck.
Why has it got to be a joke? He has been massive all year can cover 6 7 and 8 and showed tonight he can mix it with the big boys. If you want a back row utility here are non better in aus and he is also a handy lineout option he isnt the talest guy but get up quick.pound for pound he is the strongest player in aus if not super rugby. He has test expereince and 2 man of the match mid week games. He Was never really give the chance to show what he can do in a gold jersey.That has to be a joke.
Sounds like Hooper should play 12.
Why are people even criticising him in the first place, certainly no professional analysts of the game have are of the opinion that Pocock is like Pat McPotato in a 7 jersey.
Yea and thats why its so frustrating, yes hes injured but he was in top form and knowing him he will come back even stronger. Not saying i dont love seeing Gill and Hooper play, they are hugely exciting players, Hooper especially, in fact he is one of my favourite players to watch in rugby BUT that doesnt mean we can suddenly forget about Pocock. There is a reason he is hailed "as one of the greatest openside flankers the game has ever seen." And lets not forget what he brings to the team in terms of leadership.Holey sh*t had a good laugh at that one haha. And yeh I tend to agree with what you're saying but one of the issues is that we've seen hardly any of him lately and I guess that distorts our image of what he used to play like. With such great depth in the 7 position I'm sure you can see why we would be getting excited about players like Gill and Hooper. They would undoubtedly be up there with the best.
Thank you! Finally some sense!I simply cannot believe that anyone here really thinks that both Hooper and Gill have overtaken Pocock. You must have lost your mind! How many Tests has Gill played? How many MOM performances has he put in as a Wallaby? How many match-winning games has played for the Wallabies? I'm not even an Ausssie and I'm offended that anyone would consider Gill to be a better option, a better 7 or a better player than Pocock right now. I can see the argument for Hooper ( I don't agree but I can see the argument) but Gill? Gill?! Liam Gill?!?
Geeez...have some respect for your great Wallaby players!!
can cover 6 7 and 8
He is the openside equivalent of Pat McCabe at 12.