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'Entirely different to what the referees asked for': All Blacks assistant on South African TV director's influence
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Harry Wilson on his 'Aussie never-say-die attitude' that inspired Pumas win
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Harry Wilson says he’s been inspired by the fighting spirit of Australia’s top-ranked tennis player, Alex de Minaur, as he prepares to lead the Wallabies into another Rugby Championship battle with Argentina.
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Test skipper Wilson and Australian teammate Max Jorgensen were invited into de Minaur’s box at this year’s Australian Open, presenting the world No.8 with a Wallabies jersey after his third-round win.
Since then, Wilson has kept close tabs on de Minaur’s career, impressed by his never-say-die attitude.
“Sort of from that day I’ve just tried to watch as much tennis of him as I could, and (I’m) always keeping tabs of how he’s going,” said Wilson, who had a hit with de Minaur ahead of Australia’s Davis Cup tie with Belgium this weekend.
“The way he always digs deep, just by himself, not having anyone else around you, is pretty special, and I just love watching how, wherever the ball was, he found a way to get it back.
“He definitely has that Aussie never-say-die attitude.”
Bullocking No.8 Wilson appeared to adopt the same approach in the Wallabies’ Test match against the Pumas in Townsville last weekend.
The Australian captain was hailed for his fearless approach, unwilling to settle for a draw as they clawed their way to a dramatic 28-24 victory.
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Wilson said it was an Australian mentality.
“The mental resilience you have to have as a tennis player is pretty unbelievable, and I guess if there’s something we can take from him (de Minaur), we’ve been behind at halftime in a few games and we’ve found a way to get back into it,” he said.
“That’s just been trying to stack as many moments as we could, and I’m sure that’s the way they’ve got to do it in tennis. It’s not about trying to win the match when you’re two sets down, it’s about winning the next point, the next game, win the next set and then you can win the match from there.
“I think most Australians probably would have done the same thing – that’s who we are as people.
“We always want to back ourselves, and obviously that one worked there, and it’s probably no different to the way they fight back on the tennis court late in matches trying to get the win, and we love seeing it.”
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The Wallabies face Argentina in the fourth round of the Rugby Championship on Saturday afternoon at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, with the Test sold out.
They are second in the four-nations competition behind New Zealand.
Coach Joe Schmidt will unveil his team on Thursday afternoon and is set to leave out Tom Lynagh, who has been carrying a hamstring niggle.
Tane Edmed is reportedly set for a surprise start at No.10 ahead of James O’Connor, with Schmidt preferring to leave the veteran on the bench to steer the team home in the second half.
Edmed, who will play his third Test, made his debut against Ireland late last year, but the Pumas match will be his first start.
The ACT Brumbies recruit was called into the squad following injuries to playmakers Noah Lolesio and Ben Donaldson.
Schmidt is expected to make a number of changes to freshen up the side after two Tests in South Africa and the Townsville match, played in hot conditions.
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