Ethan Hooker delivered a breakout performance as the Springboks demolished the All Blacks in Wellington, writes MARK KEOHANE.
Writing for the Sunday Times, Keohane says Rassie Erasmus’ gamble to hand Hooker his first Test start paid off spectacularly, with the 22-year-old Sharks sensation starring under the high ball, in defence and on attack during the record-breaking 43-10 victory.
Erasmus has long believed that “if a player can excel against the All Blacks in New Zealand, he can play in a World Cup final” – and Hooker, who Erasmus described to Keohane as “a machine”, emphatically met that benchmark.
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No team had ever scored 40-plus points against the All Blacks in New Zealand or beaten them 36-0 in a half until this match, and the Boks did both after trailing 7-0 early.
Keohane says Hooker’s size and physicality brought a new edge to a back three usually built around the brilliance of Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
“Kolbe and Arendse are more Mozart than Metallica, but Hooker is all Metallica with a bit of Mozart,” he writes.
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Damian Willemse, shifted to inside centre, delivered his best display in 43 Tests, while Kolbe again shone in the city where he first lit up the international stage in 2018. Wilco Louw’s impact at scrum time was immense, and newcomers Grant Williams, Canan Moodie, Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman and Marnus van der Merwe also impressed.
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But Keohane reserved special praise for Manie Libbok, who replaced the concussed Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the first half and “took the No 10 baton with both hands” to guide the Boks home in one of their greatest ever away wins.
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
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