The Waratahs have been given the all-clear to power ahead with Michael Hooper despite having one week left to sit the veteran flanker out under the Wallabies’ controversial resting policy.
Hooper has regained his trademark form in recent weeks, helping NSW win three of their past four matches to overcome a woeful start to the season and climb to sixth on the ladder, with four games to go.
Along with several other Wallabies, the 124-Test openside missed the Waratahs’ loss away to the Blues in round nine under World Cup resting protocols agreed between the franchises and Rugby Australia at the start of the year.
Hooper has one more week to sit out under the rules but Wallabies coach Eddie Jones confirmed to this masthead he would not force the issue, leaving NSW and Hooper to manage his load – subject to the experienced No.7 staying injury-free.
Waratahs coach Darren Coleman hinted at resting Hooper at some point before the finals, but said it would not be considered for the next two matches. The Waratahs host the Rebels and Drua, both teams ranked lower than NSW but within sniffing distance of the top eight.
The Waratahs play the fourth-ranked Crusaders away in their penultimate regular-season match, presenting Coleman with another opportunity to rest players for a game that will have little impact on his side’s final standings.
“It’s been a while since NSW has had a big, strong No.8 that takes the team forward.”
NSW coach Darren Coleman on No.8 Langi Gleeson
The potential loss of towering No.6 Taleni Seu could further impact Coleman’s strategy. Seu missed the second half of his side’s 24-32 win over the Reds in Townsville on Saturday and will require scans on a sore shoulder this week. With Ned Hanigan also still out with concussion and Lachlan Swinton on an extended ban, the squad’s back row depth is thinning out.
“We were going to work with Eddie and see how the games unfold and how the ladder is looking, but we haven’t worked through that yet,” Coleman said of Hooper.
“He’ll definitely play the next couple of weeks at home and then we’ll have a better understanding of where we are on the ladder and how he’s feeling, and we’ll go from there.
“We’ve spoken about some potential outcomes. If we keep winning and we’re safely in the playoffs, we’ll combine that with what Eddie thinks and how Hoops is physically. But at the moment he’s going good and he’ll definitely go again on the next couple of weeks.”
Back in commanding form: Michael Hooper tackles Fraser McReight.Credit: Getty
At least there are no questions hovering over the return of young No.8 Langi Gleeson, who was dominant for NSW in a 60-minute performance.
Coleman praised the back rower, saying his influence over the game would only grow as his fitness improved.
“He’s the first to admit he’s got to continue to get fitter. Some of his repeat efforts, or his kick-chase, he cookies up a bit, or moves a bit slow. But you give him the ball or get to make a jackal or a tackle and he rips in,” the NSW coach said.
“You can see it in our team room on a Tuesday morning when we name our team, the chests puff out on the other players, everyone needs that. It’s been a while since NSW has had a big, strong No.8 that takes the team forward. He did that for us again [against the Reds].
Langi Gleeson is 21 years old and only beginning to show his wares.Credit: Getty
“Not just in our attacking end, he’s so good for our exits, he carries off a lot of them, we can kick without pressure, that’s all on the back of him. He’s a specimen and a freak, and once he gets into full fitness – he’s still a bit off – he’ll cause some damage.”
The top five teams remain 11 points clear of the rest of the field, with the Waratahs bunched tightly with Queensland (7th spot), the Drua (8) and the Rebels (9).
The Rebels will be tough opponents after losing by a converted try to the Brumbies at home on Sunday. The sides’ last clash was in Super round in Melbourne, resulting in a 34-27 win to the home side.
“That was one of the lowlights of the year, that second half down there, losing to them,” Coleman said after his team beat the Reds in Townsville on Saturday.
“At the moment we want to be clearly identified as the second-best team in Australia, keep pushing and chasing the Brumbies, and to do that we need to beat those teams. They [the Rebels] got the better of us down there last [time], but I think they’ll find they’ll face a different team this week in Sydney.”
Watch all the action from the Super Rugby Pacific with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.
