Michael Hooper compares Jack Dempsey to Rocky Elsom
Jack Dempsey will make his long-awaited return for the Waratahs on Saturday night, and it is a sight Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper is looking forward to.
Jack Dempsey has been lauded as a modern day Rocky Elsom by national captain Michael Hooper.
Hooper, Dempsey and Ned Hanigan will form an exceptionally mobile starting backrow in the opening Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes on Saturday night.
The Brookvale Oval clash will herald the long-awaited return of Dempsey to the Tahs side after two injury-plagued seasons.
Dempsey has not played Super Rugby since 2017, having ripped his hamstring off the bone in a Wallabies match against the Barbarians in September of that year, and will start in the No.8 jersey for NSW this weekend.
“[He’s got] power, he’s really explosive, and then some real finesse, he sometimes looks a bit like Rocky Elsom when he runs the ball,” Hooper said.
“And he’s got some attributes, some skills he can pull out, there really are some similarities there.
“What comes to mind is his ball-carrying ability, what he can do in manipulating the defence.
“He’s very hungry to get in there and make a stand in the Waratah jersey.”
Hooper said the Tahs’ game plan against the fast-paced Canes would be tailored to their own high-tempo style.
“We’re a mobile forward pack, and we’ve got some real killers in the backline, so how we can recycle ball, move that around, get some ball in the air to our really talented guys in that space, regardless of what the Hurricanes are going to bring to us, is key.
“We’re sticking to what we’re good at.
“We’ve played a bit together at national level, it’s great for Jack to get a go at Waratahs level, it’s been a long time for him, a long road, playing in a jersey he really loves to play in.
“I’m super pumped to see him get out there this weekend and he’s really grown a nice combination with Ned.”
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