The ex Pirate lighting up the Aviva Premiership
You could have forgiven Scott Lawson for wondering where this lad came from, after lining Matt Hopper up for a bone crunching tackle the Harlequins centre sent Scott Lawson the wrong way as he stepped over the try line from close range in Harlequins and Gloucester's recent Heineken Cup clash at the stoop. Just the latest in a series of displays that have seen Hopper explode onto the scene. I've heard different ideas as to where he's come from, ranging from a former England sevens star to a Premiership Academy graduate. You too could be forgiven for thinking that.
"He is a player who has come down a different route to most into professional rugby" Conor O'Shea said of his new centre signing at the start of this season. The 26-year-old signed with Harlequins from Championship side Cornish Pirates, he had been with Pirates for just a single season, scoring 9 tries in 30 games, having joined from fellow Championship club Plymouth Albion. To trace the origins of his talent we need to go back further though. The son of former Exeter Chiefs captain Keith Hopper had just finished his studies at Cardiff University, where aside from University rugby, his only previous experience in English league rugby had come for Wessex. He made, the not just career changing, but life changing decision to head Down Under were he spent a season playing for Manley in the Sydney Premiership. You can see the Southern Hemisphere influence in his style of play, a "run at spaces not at faces" ethos that has seen Stuart Barnes label him England's answer to Conrad Smith. High praise indeed.
On his return Hopper turned up at Championship side Plymouth Albion. A club with a history of looking at potential, not a list of previous clubs/achievements. Though no doubt Hopper's time down under, in a league that contains many Super Rugby players, would have impressed them. An option at centre or full back, it took him just four games to become an integral part of Albions first team. Hopper ended up Albion's top try scorer that season and was voted "The Heralds" player of the year. He spent another year at Brickfields before a season with the Cornish Pirates, after which he signed for the Quins as cover for George Lowe. When Lowe picked up an injury in the Heineken Cup win over Connacht, Hopper stepped up. He made a memorable debut in the following game against Gloucester, scoring a crucial try in the 28-9 win and the rest, as they say, is history.
His characteristic play is not new, Quins form, especially that of their pack and Evan's quality at 10 have at times given him an easy ride in his first season in the Premiership but the Championship have enjoyed watching Hopper for the past few years. What defines Hopper as a player is his incisive attacking play, combining intuitive running lines either as a support player or as the spear head of the attack. Hopper is the perfect compliment to Jordan Turner Hall, Quins use Turner Hall as a crash ball off Evans, drawing in the defence. They bring Hopper into the crowded midfield where his step and deft offloads keep the move going. His intelligent distribution means Quins have a second play maker out wide or in the tight exchanges of the midfield. His defence needs work, there have been a couple of defensive lapses in key moments and in one on one situations, but the intensity in defence is one of the big differences between the Championship and Premiership.
The idea that people get just three minutes of fame, that Hopper could have been just a bit part, squad cover to Quins has long been extinguished. If Hopper isn't hit by second season syndrome next year then I would like to see him partner Tuilagi in the England midfield. In an age of increasingly organised defences packed full of man mountains the combination of intelligent distribution and power can put England on the front foot. Tuilagi crashing through with Hopper on his shoulder, moving the ball quickly wide or Hopper drawing in a defence before releasing the Saracens bound Ashton. This could be a dream combination, he could be England's missing link. He is also something of hope for the many, like myself, plying there trade in the lower leagues still hoping their day could come.
