Michael Hooper: "What a ride!"

[dru]

Every now and then a particular player deserves a particular recognition. [I think that the mods will let this thread through.] Farewell Michael Hooper. What a servant to the game.

x 125 caps
x 69 of these as captain

ABC on Hooper

Roar on Hooper

espn on Hooper

Planet Rugby on Hooper

 

[Strewthcobber]

Opta sports did a series of tweets last year which really summed up just how good he was

* 4th most caps for Australia
* Played in 86% of Australia's tests since his debut

Since his debut, in tests
* most tackles made, across all nations
* most metres made, across all nations
* most tries scored, from a forward, across all nations (also holds the Australian record)
* most turnovers made, across all nations

 

[Tomikin]

One of the best to ever do it

 

[liquor box]

That amazes me, what a champion, usually a winger or fullback will get a few runs of 20-30m each game returning long kicks.

To outdo this is pretty impressive.

 

[Drew]

The comments say it all

Michael Hooper retires from Australia duty after Paris Olympics omission

Former Australia captain Michael Hooper retires from international duty after being left out of the sevens squad for the Olympics.

www.bbc.com

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Hoops has to be one of the most likeable sportsmen I've ever seen. Great player, great man.

 

[LeCheese]

My favourite part is either a) Hoops was lurking in the comments and made a BBC account to post a thank you message himself; or b) someone gets a kick out of impersonating him. Either way, it's hilarious.

 

[Drew]

Yeah, put the link up as I wasn’t sure it was authentic or not.

 

[Tex]

Wow, stunning numbers for a bloke who played tighter than his body probably naturally warranted

 

[Pfitzy]

Amazing player. Never fully appreciated in his own country as much as he was elsewhere

 

[Pfitzy]

Specifically, I'm talking to all the "But he's not a real 7" wankers on here. Get in the sea.

 

[Rob42]

I'm betting the S&C people from the Tahs or Wallabies could post some even more impressive stats about his workrate on the field and at training. I've heard several Tahs players comment that he really did train like he played.

 

[Drew]

And the intangibles he brought. His work ethic and integrity made those around him work a bit harder. At the last World Cup, McReight was fit and his form had probably surpassed him, but he would’ve been a handy squad member to maintain standards and morale.

 

[Tex]

Yeah Eddie excluding him was just baffling.

 

[Derpus]

He was, for me, the definition of a seven. He is the standard and style to which all sevens should aspire.