Plum Dave has a PhD in rugby, we are merely observers. So when we see Hooker outplaying his All Black opponents…it’s not a reliable reaction. You know his take of the high ball, deft offloads….50 meter break that sealed the game. All just conjecture.
Lol Moz
All the URC highlights are on YouTube.
Dawie simply needs to point us to a game where JJ was MOTM or even featured reasonably in any game.
I suppose that rugby PHD of his puts him beyond having to provide evidence to back his claims.
Plum I don’t care what you think or anyone else thinks - I know my players and stop lying about what I said about Hooker
I said Kriel was robotic - I said Hooker originally gave me the impression he was only about power play but I have seen enough of him now that there is more to him than that and I have said as much - so stop fucking lying
As for JJ - I stand by my take that he is a better prospect than Hooker - he is more talented and creative. More chance of him beating a defender one on one than Hooker
Hooker has power and size over JJ but not skill set. But at 98kg JJ is a great fit for a 13
Why is JJ not near the Bok set up and only seen a Bok alignment camp to date - for the same reason we ask the question about David Kriel, Tyrone Green, Tambwe, Henco v Wyk, Nohamba, Hanro Jacobs, Ruben v Heerden, Ruan Vermaak, JF v Heerden, Ludwig, Manu Tsituka, Augustus, Dayamani or the loss in favour in the likes of Jordan Hendrikse, Papier, AH Venter, Dweba, Jason Jenkins, Cobus Wiese, Vincent Tsituka, Buthelezi, Ruan Venter and Roos or why the hell the likes of Mostert, Nortje or Marco v Staaden find favour
What did Hooker do that has him outplaying his AB opponent - time stamp that for me - for it’s a complete lie
Taking a high ball - bwhaaahaaaaa so fucking definitive
Plum those URC games will show as much about JJ as they will Hooker - fat zero since the Sharks have been so damn poor that their coach got the sack
But whenever JJ has beaten defenders with the odd ball he has received - I have highlighted it
He has been more impressive than Hooker has
Just go see how ineffective Hooker has been at 13 in his last two games for the Sharks
Try catch a wake up
Look it up yourself Dave, you are the one with the faulty memory….here’s AI:
"Hookers Break against the All Blacks"
refers to South African player Ethan Hooker's sensational performance in 2025, where his powerful runs, skill, and line breaks significantly contributed to the Springboks' massive win over the All Blacks in Wellington, highlighting his arrival as a key player and fueling discussions about hookers (positional players) breaking the famous Black defense, though All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua also took a break due to concussions.
Ethan Hooker's Impact:
Hooker is good but he has not beaten defenders through skill - he has been physical and very good under the high ball
But trying to tell me he has ripped defences to shreds and dominated the AB’s is nonsense
He is a great prospect wasted on the wing much like Moodie is
11 Ethan Hooker – 8.5
In his first start for the national team, the 22-year-old may have been a bit envious of the action that went fellow wing Kolbe’s way. But he grew into the match and did his job well, though, with some strong carries on the flank. His kick-chase and supreme strength in the air played a huge part in the outcome of the match, relentlessly coming out on top in aerial battles. Would have surely wanted the match to last longer as he was getting better and better.
11. Ethan Hooker (8.5)
Explosive on the edge: 11 carries for 99 metres, five defenders beaten, one line break and an offload. Asked constant questions in backfield kick returns.
Ethan Hooker 9: In just his third Test and first start, he was excellent out wide, in the air, jumping for balls. He carried strongly, with a few good runs, one from deep that led to a try.
That’s exactly what I said - he was physical and good in the air - what’s your point?
My point is Hooker was very comfortable on the international stage in key matches….as much so as perhaps any young player except Sacha who is a freak. Rugby is as much about the mental competency as the physical. Hooker is ready….a mental A. Julius has made a few nice breaks but much of the time he seems uncertain, more of a mental b minus. Will he get it….some do some don’t it’s hard to predict.
Hooker definitely has it and agreed he looks completely comfortable at test level. As for Julius, he just looks a great prospect, a refreshing prospect at 13, purely based on his ability to beat defenders one on one through skill - it’s definitely the acceleration off the mark that equips him differently.
But yes he is only a prospect who like Hooker has been labouring in a poor performing Sharks side
I much prefer centres equipped with the ability to attack space - which is why my preference is the likes of Willemse, Moodie and Julius. Hooker has shown elements of this but looks more inclined to rely on power over creativity.
Of our 4 established centres, only Am had the creativity and great rugby brain - Jessie is robotic and dependable, AE and DA are all about the power
Hooker fits between Am and AE, Julius is more Am
The problem is with JJ is he's a limited prospect. 13 is the only place he can play.
Hooker could be on the wing, 12, 13 and he also has all the attributes for 15...though we don't often see him kicking.
The only problem I have with Hooker at 12 is that he and Moodie are quite similar, both in build and style. I dunno, is that a problem?
Rugby is still a game made up of specialists with the odd utility player thrown in
JJ played on the wing in his first season for the Baby Boks and has played at 12
I also recall him playing the odd game at 15 for his school based on the YouTube tribute to him when he first burst onto the scene as a school boy sensation
Wht is vey material is that 2026 is a cucial year for moving up to t he RWC squad in 2027.
There will have to be a keen eassessment of which of the older players will make he grade to get through to 2027. Of those players the following will be under real scrutiny :-
Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Pollard, Reinach, Etzebeth,, Kolisis, Mostert , Kwagga and Esterhuizen.
Of the above I think Kolbe, De Allende and Reinach are likely to survive. The i gns in respect fo the other player were problematic at best in 2025.
Amn st the youn ger players coming through there are some that could start of t he Sprin gboks this year and thse include moving Hooker to 13. O the youg sters i think the players that could move up are the following :-
Hanekom , Roos and De Villiers, Van den Heever
.