Have you seen it, the first composition of Eddie Jones at the head of the Australian team? It includes strong choices, such as the return of Will Skelton, that of Quade Cooper or even an unprecedented association in 3rd row. While many had bet on a duo of flankers close to the ground, with Michael Hooper and Fraser McReight, the former England coach finally decided to densify his pack against South Africa. By aligning in number 6 a certain Tom Hooper.
VIDEO. This fantastic Australian number 7 will he put Michael Hooper in the stands for the World Cup?We cut you right off, he may be his namesake, said Tom is not the brother of the captain of the Aussies. Nor his carbon copy, moreover, he who measures the double meter (1m99) and flirts with 120 lead, all at only 22 years old. When we talked about densification…
A hybrid between Du Toit and Flament
But what do we know about him, exactly? In truth, not much, even if Tom Hooper is, since his years at Stanislaus College, presented as a future great. At the time of writing these lines, the revelation of Super Rugby 2022 on the Brumbies side has 22 appearances in the main southern competition. A true Maasai warrior, intelligent and with a fairly impressive volume of play, Hooper also has the strength to be able to evolve in 3rd as being 2nd line because of his physique. In a profile that is reminiscent of that of a certain Pieter-Steph Du Toit, or even Ruan Venter, for those who peel South African rugby as we have fun doing it.
VIDEO. OUTCH! 19-year-old kid blasts Hamish Watson violently on impactBut then with all these qualities, why was the red helmet not in the plans of the observers for the selection this season? Well, quite simply because in addition to still being very young, Hooper suffered a leg injury for most of the season. Returning in early May, 5 days from the end of the regular phase, this did not prevent him from directly regaining a place in the group of the Brumbies, who were nevertheless running very well without him. Until starting in the Super Rugby semi-final against the Chiefs of Brodie Retallick and showing all his slaughter in the big games. Eddie Jones says it himself: “it comes out of nowhere. He has been injured almost all season“. And yet…
VIDEO. 37km/h, 7’s and 9 tries in 13 matches: But who is this little Capuozzo from Super Rugby?
Yes, but here it is, this boy may have that something extra that the others don’t have, in Australia at least, with his profile that is scrappy, massive and intelligent at the same time. Will it be THE surprise of the Gold and Green at the World Cup in France as well? He will have, before that, to swallow the hard stage of his first international capes during the Rugby Championship. Before next year, the general Australian public may also discover his little brother Lachlan, the Australia U20 flanker, and who former Stade Français center Morgan Turinui describes as “the ball”. The Hoopers, sacred know-how, on the island-continent…
