'I don't just want to be a Wallaby, I want to be a winning Wallaby' - Fraser McReight's aspirations for emerging golden generation
After four rounds of Super Rugby AU, a number of last year’s history-making Junior Wallabies squad have stood up and made their presence known on the national stage.
With the competition pitting the next generation of Australian talent against the incumbent Wallabies, one of the competition’s standouts has been last years under-20s captain, Fraser McReight.
McReight has held his own in what is arguably the most dangerous and promising backrow in Australian rugby, packing down alongside 22-year-old Reds captain Liam Wright, and 20-year-old Harry Wilson.
The flanker starred in the first three matches of the Australian-only competition for the Reds, currently topping the charts for turnovers won, with six, despite last weekend’s bye.
The two-time Australian under-20s player of the year is pleased with how he’s performed since the COVID break, but admitted that there’s still plenty of work to be done within his game.
“Obviously it’s a lot different starting than coming off the bench. Actually getting a full 80-minutes to test yourself against fresh players and grow your game and learn about your game is something I’ve done,” McReight told RugbyPass.
“There’s a lot of room for improvement but I’ve been pretty happy in terms of what I’ve done and what I’ve added to the team so far.
“I haven’t really solidified my position yet but that’s something that I definitely want to do.”
McReight became the 1338th player to represent his state after coming off the bench in March of 2019, but had to wait until round one of Super Rugby AU against the Waratahs to make his starting debut.
Lining up against Michael Hooper, the 21-year-old won four turnovers for his side including a vital penalty at the breakdown late in the match that all but secured the historic victory.
While his starting debut drew plenty of attention from fans and pundits, he said that he felt comfortable just playing his game against some of rugby’s best.
“I worked really hard during the COVID break and during the preseason, so I was ready to handle whatever the Waratahs threw at me and threw at us.
“Going up against the Wallabies captain, it was pretty special, to be honest, but I was just trying to do my job and do it as best as I could.”
McReight’s elite work rate and his leadership is nothing new to those who saw the flanker impress for Brisbane Grammar in Brisbane’s GPS high school competition, and representative sides including the Junior Wallabies.
After playing for the Australian under-20s in 2018, McReight was named as captain for his second spell with the squad last year.
He led the Junior Wallabies to their first Oceania under-20s title on the Gold Coast, which included a momentous 24-0 victory over New Zealand.
McReight ended all hopes of a miracle Baby Blacks comeback late in the match, crossing over for a try in what he described as being a “massive” win for Australian rugby.
“I played the year before and we got beaten by a quality New Zealand side. Coming through that year in 2018, we didn’t really have much confidence about it, no one was really wanting to win I suppose.
“Last year was completely different, we had a great team and we knew exactly the sort of backs and forwards we had, we complimented each other really well.
“We knew that we were going to bash them up front. Our forward pack laid the platform for our silky backs and you could just look at what that did for us: we beat a New Zealand team 24-0 and I don’t think that that’s ever happened at that level or any junior level.”
Keeping New Zealand to nil set the tone for what promised to be an exciting Junior World Championships campaign for Australia in Argentina.
In a pool with Italy, England and Ireland, Australia snuck through to the knockout rounds despite a loss to the English.
After defeating hosts Argentina 34-13 in the semi-finals, Australia faced defending champions France.
They lost the final by one-point, with Will Harrison and Michael McDonald only converting three from seven set shots.
EXCLUSIVE: One of the most decorated players of the modern era was unceremoniously dumped out of the @Wallabies – and he did not take it well. Matt Giteau reflects on the build up to 2011. #Wallabieshttps://t.co/jMXeHtmZnm
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 3, 2020
Still, McReight took plenty of positives out of the record-equalling performance, matching Australia’s runner up finish from the 2010 instalment of the competition.
“They’ve been my favourite part of rugby that I’ve ever been in, especially last year where it was such a tight group, everyone got along.
“It wasn’t what we wanted to do in the final, the French side were really quality, and if we could go back, there’s definitely some things we’d change.
“I know for me that I would’ve loved to have won that and done something that no other Australian under-20s side has done, but on the flipside of that, we’re still so proud of what we were still able to achieve.”
The Australian Schools and under-18s side also broke another hoodoo against their Trans-Tasman rivals last year, defeating New Zealand schools 18-14 in Hamilton to break a seven-year streak.
It’s the start of what could be a golden generation for Australian rugby, with McReight aiming for future successes on the back of the nation’s emerging talent.
“My goals personally is that I want to play for the Wallabies and I’m not shying away from that, that’s something that I really want to do.
“I want to win a Bledisloe and I want to win a World Cup. I don’t just want to be a Wallaby, I want to be a winning Wallaby.
“There’s a lot of hard work to get there, and a new coaching set-up at the Wallabies that I think is going to be something pretty special. The new group that we’ve got coming through is also going to be really exciting.
“I’m really keen to see what’s happening in the future and work my way there to play and put the gold jersey on.”
But to reach those higher honours, McReight is going to have to continue to impress when given the chance to represent his state.
Before the coronavirus suspended Super Rugby, the Reds were made to rue their goal kicking woes, losing tight games including a match against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Even though the Reds appear to be clicking now with an undefeated record in Super Rugby AU, McReight is still expecting more improvement from his side.
“When you come back into the Super Rugby AU season, it’s not going to be what it was like when we left. It was two, three months ago, so you have to start fresh.
“For us, our attack hasn’t been on song yet but the scary thing for us is we haven’t lost a game, we’re two wins and one draw, and we’ve probably been playing at 60 per cent.”
The Queensland Reds face the ACT Brumbies in Canberra in what will be a decisive match in the context of Super Rugby AU.
The Reds haven’t won in the capital in six-years, with McReight clear in saying that it was a piece of history that it’s “definitely something that we’re coming for.”
After starting the first three matches of Super Rugby AU, McReight has been named on the bench in what is expected to be a close contest between the competition’s top two sides.
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
27 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
27 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
27 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments