Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

‘Felt like I could compete’: Michael Hooper reflects on SVNS Series debut

Australia's Michael Hooper speaks with reporters during SVNS Series debut in Hong Kong China. Picture: World Rugby.

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper “felt like I could compete” on the SVNS Series after making his debut with Australia at the prestigious Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens over the weekend.

ADVERTISEMENT

Hooper, 32, was injected into SVNS for the first time on Friday evening after being named to come off the pine against a Fiji side that thrives whenever they play at Hong Kong Stadium.

The 125-Test veteran, who also claimed four John Eales Medals during his illustrious 15s career, showed glimpses of promise before an iconic steal at the breakdown in the final play.

Related

Video Spacer

Rugbypass TV

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 1:00
Loaded: 16.53%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 1:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Rugbypass TV

    Watch rugby on demand, from exclusive shows and documentaries to extended highlights from RWC 2023. Anywhere. Anytime. All for free!

    Join us

    Australia went on to make the semi-finals, but after losing to arch-rivals New Zealand, Hooper was handed a maiden SVNS Series start in the third-place playoff against Ireland.

    After that fixture, Hooper disappeared away from the watchful eyes of fans by walking down the north-west tunnel before stopping to reflect on his first taste of rugby sevens.

    “Just how quick it is, how quick the game is,” Hooper told RugbyPass and other reporters after being asked what he’s learned. “It’s over in a flash.

    “Probably it being like real rugby… I felt good out there, I felt like I could compete.

    “There’s some areas of the game that I think I can get a lot better at for sure; how I link with other players and when I can impact the game. It was a good weekend.”

    ADVERTISEMENT

    In Hooper’s one and only start across the weekend, the Aussie continued to show skills that made him such a force in the 15s game, but there’s still plenty to learn in SVNS.

    Ireland were too good in the end as they equalled their best finish of the season with a bronze medal. Hugo Lennon scored a rapid double which ultimately sunk the Aussies 14-5.

    Finn Morton spoke with former Wallaby Michael Hooper after his SVNS Series debut. Picture: World Rugby.

    But the experience to start a match seemed like an important milestone for Hooper who described the opportunity as “more controllable” as opposed to coming off the bench.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    “I didn’t have high minutes. That was probably the most amount of time there in that game and I felt good,” Hooper said.

    “We go three weeks at home now, a bit of a down week, and then two really good weeks and get over toe Singapore. I’ll be better again then.

    “You know that you’re going to be out there on the first whistle. You know you’re either going to be receiving or (kicking off),” he explained.

    “You can prepare for the things that are coming your way.

    “On the bench, which I haven’t had a lot of practice even over my whole career, you’re coming on with a minute to go, two minutes to go, the game’s in the balance. Context means a lot more coming off the bench.

    “So at the start of the game nil-all, you let fly.”

    Australia have dropped to sixth on the SVNS Series overall standings after neighbouring nation New Zealand took out the title at the coveted Hong Kong Sevens.

    The Aussies have made two Cup finals this season – losing both – but have also failed to make it past the pool stage and into the quarter-finals on two occasions.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Kubota Spears | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Final | Full Match Replay

    Saitama Wild Knights vs Kobe Steelers | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 Bronze Final | Full Match Replay

    Boks Office | Episode 42 | Investec Champions Cup Final Review

    Spain's Incredible Rugby Sevens Journey to the World Championship Final | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 14

    Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

    New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

    South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

    The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    R
    RedWarriors 42 minutes ago
    Rassie Erasmus wades into heated debate over Jaden Hendrikse antics

    Irish media accurately covered the Taoiseach’s visits to the EU president to reach agreement on ‘not returning to the borders of the past’. The Brexidiots had not even considered this nor had they considered any part of what Brexit might look at.

    Morons like Nigel Farage were screaming ‘Traitors’ demanding that article 50 would be triggered. Once it was triggered a two year count down was started to a point where the UK could have been thrown into the World Market only under WTO rules. All the EU had to do was wait and Brexit would eat up its opposition.


    Brexidiots talked tough and lied that the EU had more than the UK to lose. But it was all shallow lies ofcourse. All the EU had to do was wait, the UK had put the gun to its own head which would go off at a certain known point in time. The EU had won the negotiation before it had even started.

    So we had extensions, more UK tough talking, capitulations, changes of Government and PMs everything you’d expect from a disfunctional state. Farage and Tice who claimed before the vote that ‘No-one is talking about leaving the Customs Union or Single market’ were now screaming about traitors unless the hardest Brexit was not enforced. May, Johnson, Davis, Rabb, Frost etc etc all devoured not by traitorous insiders but by the ridiculousness of their own project.


    That is why all Ireland had to do was add the border as a pre requisite. Even Unionists concurred that the EU put a lot more effort into fixing the issues on the ground than the UK. Proving once again how completely unfit you are to Govern. The man who thinks Ireland are the ‘parasites of the world’ gives his opinion on Ireland? Do F**k off f@sc1st Tommie!


    But men like Farage and those he represents cashed in big: the grifter made a killing for his cronies before the voting had even stopped at the expense of ordinary people.

    459 Go to comments
    LONG READ
    LONG READ ‘This may be the end of an era at Leicester but the future looks bright’ ‘This may be the end of an era at Leicester but the future looks bright’
    Search