‘Big losses’: Reds’ new skipper provides update on injured Wallabies duo

Queensland Reds stand-in captain Harry Wilson expects fellow Wallaby Fraser McReight to “be back pretty soon” in Super Rugby Pacific, but the latest on Liam Wright isn’t quite as positive as the backrower continues to battle injury woes.

Wright led Australia into battle for the first time in a win over Wales at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, and it was a leadership call that came as a surprise to many including the man himself who opened about the appointment the day before that Test.

But Joe Schmidt had to select another Wallaby to lead the team the following week as Wright was ruled out of the second Test in Melbourne, and that was the beginning of another unfortunate stint on the sidelines for the injury-riddled blindside flanker.

Reds coach Les Kiss named Wright on the bench for Queensland’s clash with the Western Force in round three, and started the team’s co-captain the following week in Christchurch. But Wright has since suffered another blow, missing last weekend’s clash with the Waratahs.

McReight picked up a shoulder injury during the 35-15 demolition at Brisbane’s famed sporting Colosseum, Suncorp Stadium, with the openside flanker joining Wright in the casualty ward ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Highlanders in Dunedin.

“I’m still not too clear with Liam,” Wilson told reporters on Friday. “He’s been speaking to the specialists and hopefully getting a clearer picture soon.

“I don’t think Fraser will be too far off. It’s sort of a minor injury… he’ll be back pretty soon for us.

“We’re obviously missing them both, they’re two big losses for us, but it’s super exciting for us this weekend to have ‘JB’ starting his first game of the year at seven and then obviously Joe Brial on the bench there who are two very good up-and-coming players.

“Then you’ve got Seru Uru who’s been all class this year.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

25

26

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

60%

“We are quite lucky with that depth we have.”

After five rounds, the Reds are the top-ranked Australian side with one loss in Christchurch the only blip on their record to date. They’ve registered wins over Moana Pasifika, the Force and the Tahs, but they’ll look to make a statement across the ditch.

That loss to the Crusaders earlier this month was fairly one-sided. It came less than 24 hours after Waratahs coach Dan McKellar labelled the Reds the “best team” in the competition – kicking off the lead-up to the Aussie derby in Brisbane the following weekend.

No Australian team has won a Trans-Tasman Super Rugby title since the Waratahs in the mid-2010s, and if the Reds are going to be seen as a genuine contender this season, beating the Highlanders in Dunedin would be an impressive feat.

“We want to keep a consistent approach this year and obviously against Crusaders we didn’t play our best brand of footy which we wanted to on that day,” Wilson insisted.

“Saying that, we’ve got a new opportunity this week against Highlanders; a place we haven’t won over here in about 12 years.

“It’s really exciting for us and we know they’re such a good team so we’re going to have to go out there and play a very good performance to get the chocolates.”

Without Tate McDermott, Wright and McReight, the Reds had to go in another direction for their round six clash by appointing  a new man as team captain. The selection of Wilson wouldn’t have come as a surprise to many, considering the No. 8 is the incumbent Wallabies skipper.

Wilson will become Queensland’s 129^th rugby captain when the Reds take the field at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium. As the loose forward mentioned in the above quotes, the Reds are chasing their first win under the roof in ‘Dunners’ since 2013.

“Obviously it’s a massive honour to be able to captain your state and I’m really excited for the game tomorrow,” he added.

“It’s nice just to jump in here for one week and do my job for the team and then after that, go back to my normal role which is supporting our skippers.”