The former legendary All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams has called out the Wallabies coach Eddie Jones for deciding not to bring Michael Hooper & Quade Cooper to the Rugby World Cup in France.
You can say what you want but leaving these two guys at home is a bad move.. The two of them are huge talented!
And are exactly the type of guys you want when the going gets tough.
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Eddie's given himself an out. He wins or goes far, he's a mad genius. He loses, early exit, well 2027 is the goal as the bulk of the squad will be still be together.
— p-wol (@P_WOL) August 10, 2023
It’s going to make for a cracking World Cup in France and we’re only weeks away from the big tournament now. Who do you see winning Rugby’s biggest tournament? The All Blacks seem to be hitting their peak now and are going to be tough to beat to beat.
I agree to a degree with SBW, however, Michael Hooper has not been as effective since Pocock retired. Pocock was a ferret and a fetcher, may have been penalised with new rules. Michael Hooper has been out of form and slow to get to breakdowns which is what a backrower is supposed to be doing. When Quade did cross kicks and played his own game he was the best and most exciting player. He dropped the ball under pressure against the AB’s, and a poor pass. His kicking has been exceptional. When the Reds won the Super Rugby Quade Cooper was in the best form of his life, cross kicking and breaking the line. There may be injuries and he would be my pick for first to re-enter the squad.
I wouldn’t be taking Eddie jones to the World Cup
100 % SBW
SBW has a rather elaborate rugby IQ, but I think Quade has had his day and he (Quade) knows this. Hooper has a calf injury and is not available anyway.
I think the way that Aussie played against the ABs last weekend shows that they can compete at the RWC! From a Kiwi who lives abroad and who appreciates the game as it is… The Aussie 33 is a damn good squad!
Its a shame that these 2 players aint picked. But the game must go on. AB has a strong squad picked by Foster, but its on the day when the strongest team wins.
The first players selected should include 2 reliable goal kickers as unfortunately kicks win games. Does this team have 2 such players ?
Sonny Bill Williams is NOT a “former legendary All Blacks centre”. He is a legendary former All Blacks’ centre”. The writer should be a semi-literate former Benchwarmers’ reporter.
Who cares.
He was an All Black who couldn’t decide whether he wanted to play Union or League or Box.
He won’t be remembered for any.