NSW great Michael Hooper has rugby roots in Brisbane
He’s played over 100 games for his state and captained the Waratahs to the 2014 Super Rugby title but one of NSW’s favourite sons could have easily been wearing maroon.
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The true blue heritage of Wallabies and NSW skipper Michael Hooper has been questioned with revelations he was a barefoot find in Brisbane as a five-year-old.
Hooper was playfully ambushed with the discovery when Wallabies’ hopefuls had a full on fitness session and fan day at the go-ahead Wests Bulldogs club.
The back-to-clubland setting for this week’s camp was captured by Wests president Graham Brown, who questioned Hooper’s State of Origin-style eligibility.
Brown presented the Wallabies captain with a framed photo of a cherubic Hooper in the 1997 Wests Green Under-Sevens with brother Richard and mum Raeleen as team manager.
“It’s proof … if rugby union ever played an Origin-style Queensland-NSW game, you’d have Michael Hooper eligible for Queensland,” Brown said with a grin.
The diehard 107-game NSW player recalled his brief Queensland sojourn before his devotion to Manly Roos juniors on Sydney’s northern beaches.
“Dad was on the road as a salesman, selling photocopiers I think, so from five-to-seven-years-old I lived in Brisbane and was a Wests’ rugby kid,” Hooper said.
With a laugh, Hooper shut down the closet Queenslander chatter: “Technically, not true.
“Back even further, I was a Collaroy Cougar as a junior so it’s NSW.”
Added Hooper’s Under-Sevens coach Rick Goulter: “The young Michael Hooper was a coach’s dream ... wind him up and point him in the right direction with this incredible enthusiasm.”
The banter perfectly suited a relaxed start to preparations for the Rugby World Cup kick-off which is just 12 weeks away against Fiji in Sapporo on September 21.
No one was thinking of former teammate Israel Folau when gasping for breath in repeat 50m fitness runs that’s for sure.
A 31 or 32-man Wallabies squad will be named midweek for the Test against South Africa in Johannesburg on July 20 and Argentina at Suncorp Stadium on July 27.
Flanker David Pocock will not be playing the Springboks as he continues his prolonged recovery from a tricky calf injury.
Coach Michael Cheika has still left it open to take extra players for the training week in Johannesburg but it makes no sense for Pocock to be one of them with long flights and no game time.
There are more than 35 Wallabies’ hopefuls training in Brisbane and that doesn’t include fit Brumbies players who have this week off after their semi-final exit from Super Rugby.
The talent net has been cast wide so it’s exciting to see Melbourne Rebels winger-outside centre Campbell Magnay, Queensland Reds lock Harry Hockings and Waratahs prop Harry Johnson-Holmes given this chance to impress.
Cheika is keeping his halfback options open with Will Genia, Nick Phipps, Jake Gordon and Nic White in camp and in-form Brumby Joe Powell still to come in.
Livewire Reds halfback Tate McDermott, 20, has excited many this season but he is seen more as post-World Cup potential, even allowing for his current ankle injury.
5 THINGS WE LEARNT FROM THE SUPER RUGBY SEMI-FINALS
1. Aussies don’t play enough cut-throat finals footy. The Brumbies had serenely won seven games in a row until they hit an away semi-final in Buenos Aires where some of their most bankable strengths fell apart. Five lost lineouts in the first half and 31 missed tackles killed them. Back-to-back-to-back errors were deflating from the Sam Carter and Allan Alaalatoa knock-ons followed by the Rory Arnold forward pass late in the first half.
Australian rugby does owe thanks to the Jaguares for putting the blowtorch on Wallabies contenders.
Folau Faingaa isn’t the sure thing as Wallabies hooker we thought after twice having arms outstretched as if pleading “what do I do?” when his lineout targets were covered.
The Wallabies’ lineout needs to purr this year or forget any meaningful advance at the World Cup because they are such a trigger for tries.
Brumbies flyhalf Christian Lealiifano gave us that glimpse he is five per cent off being a starting World Cup player.
2. The Crusaders v Hurricanes semi-final was worthy of a final. It was a seven-try classic of sublime Kiwi skill.
It had everything but most of all it had two brilliant No.10s. Richie Mo’unga was excellent and Beauden Barrett’s second half was stunning as he lifted his output to 18 runs for 118m.
What about that Barrett chip-and-regather with his less good left boot?
The TJ Perenara flick pass for a try, Sevu Reece’s finishing polish (but not his defence) and lesser names linking, catching kicks and off-loading showed the wide skill base.
3. Ardie Savea is a marvel. The Hurricanes’ openside flanker is such an all-purpose player to envy. He pilfers, he backs up expertly, he tackles and that three-spin move to elude defenders was mesmerising.
It took him time to convince the All Blacks’ selectors but he’s played 35 Tests now.
4. Kicking quality is all-important in big games.
The sharp double-kick trigger for the first Reece try was all precision.
Mo’unga’s pinpoint chip kick into a triangle of hesitant Hurricanes defenders generated a try just as a similar play did for the Jaguares.
You just have to wonder if the Wallabies have that kicking quality to find turf, rather than the arms of a counter-attacker, because only Kurtley Beale had the knack last year.
5. Rejoice that SANZAAR has done one thing right in promoting the Jaguares and building up Argentinian rugby. They play differently, they are top class and they challenge Aussie sides to step up with different methods.
Forget the whingers who say it’s unfair to have a virtual Test side in Super Rugby because it lifts the standard of other teams.
Can they beat the Crusaders in Christchurch? No, after celebrating the semi-final win with such emotion on-field. That was their final.
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