The 21-year-old tyro putting heat on Wallabies captain Michael Hooper welcomes 'new dawn for Australian rugby'
It didn’t take long for Fraser McReight to cement his spot at Super Rugby level by continuing to stand out as he has at each grade of rugby before.
The 2019 Junior Wallabies captain quickly proved himself to be the Queensland Reds breakdown specialist, finishing the Super Rugby AU season with the most turnovers won of any player with 18. He also impressed with his tireless work rate in both attack and defence, which has the flanker among the most exciting prospects in Australian rugby.
Last month, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie selected a 44-man Wallabies squad with an “eye to the future”, with the 21-year-old named alongside 15 other uncapped players. Just two days after the Reds 28-23 loss to the Brumbies in the Super Rugby AU Final, McReight and the rest of the Wallabies squad gathered in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales.
McReight admitted that he was a bit anxious going into his first Wallabies camp, as he didn’t know what to expect. But looking back on his first week, the increased intensity at training stood out and impressed the up-and-comer.
“Pretty much our only big training session we had was the Friday morning before we left, and the first thing you definitely notice, I’ve been told this a lot, is sure skill might be a bit better but it’s how loud the sessions are.
“The communications were just so much different, everyone was talking because that intensity goes up and everyone was probably a bit anxious, sussing out the coaches and what they’re like.”
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After leaving the Hunter Valley, the Wallabies crossed the Tasman and landed in Christchurch, where they continued their preparation for the first Bledisloe test with a three-day quarantine.
The two-time Australian Under 20s player of the year admitted that he “really enjoyed isolation” with the Super Rugby AU season only just having finished. Playing in arguably the most combative position on the field, he added that it was a good opportunity to unwind, while training when possible.
“We were pretty fortunate here, in the morning and afternoons we were split up into two groups and were able to have 30-minute walkthroughs. Obviously, we had no ball and everyone had to wear a face mask and be two metres apart, they were pretty strict on that.
“In the mornings, we’d have a 7 am mobility thing that we’d have to do. That was more about getting us up and getting us moving so our body clock can get used to that three-hour difference.”
McReight led the Junior Wallabies to a best-ever finish at the Junior World Championships in Argentina last year, losing to defending-champions France by one-point in the final. Earlier that year, his side won the Oceania under-20s Championship by beating the Baby Blacks 24-0 on the Gold Coast, with the captain crossing for a try in the Trans-Tasman contest.
Under new coach Dave Rennie, there’s plenty of expectation hanging over the Wallabies, with Australian rugby fans desperate to see the golden generation achieve their potential.
“It’s really good to have a lot of close mates here as well so it’s not like I’m coming in with all of these established players and having to learn, and not fit in. I’ve got really close mates coming through with me, I know how they play and what their potential is.
“We’ve got new coaches, 16 new players here that haven’t got a cap before, and plenty who have only had a few caps so everyone is so excited. All the old boys are really good for the group and what the coaches are bringing, this confidence and this professionalism that’s instilling confidence within us.
“It’s a new era with all the coaching staff there and the new CEO and Chairman of Australian rugby. It’s going to be a new dawn for Australian rugby.
“[But] We’ve got to start winning and we’ve got to start winning back the public.”
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Just over a week ago, Rennie confirmed that Michael Hooper would retain the captaincy even though his form had come under scrutiny throughout the domestic season. McReight, as well as his Reds captain Liam Wright, both applied plenty of pressure on Hooper’s hold on the golden number seven jersey, but his reappointment has seemingly all but confirmed his spot in the side.
But with Hooper set to reach a significant milestone, McReight is eager to learn off the experience of the Wallabies captain.
“The big thing for me is that Hoops is there. He’s one test away from becoming the youngest 100th capper in international rugby ever.
“He’s really good to learn off, he always said that I can go to him whenever I needed, and I’ve spoken to him a few times and I’m sure that I will speak to him a few more times about his mental side of the game. For me, that’s pretty special to have.”
The Wallabies will play their first test match of the year in two weeks’ time when they face the All Blacks in Wellington.
While he admitted that it would be a special moment for himself should he get the nod, McReight took a mature approach in saying that a test debut isn’t necessarily all about the individual involved.
“Who knows what’s going to happen but I’d be honoured, it’s something that I’ve always wanted since I was little and I’d be a dream come true.
“You’re proud but you don’t really think about yourself, you think about who a part of the journey has been and helped you along the way; you family, your friends, all your rugby coaches and players who have helped you on this journey.
“If I get lucky enough to play for the Wallabies, that’s for them and not so much for me.”
The All Blacks will host two Bledisloe Cup matches on October 11th and 18th, before the Wallabies potentially attempt to win back the Cup for the first time since 2002 on home soil in November.
Comments on RugbyPass
Big difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to comments