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The magical moment that stunned Wallabies’ Harry Potter

Harry Potter of the Force warms up before the round one Super Rugby Pacific match between Western Force and Hurricanes at HBF Park, on February 23, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Harry Potter admits he was left stunned by the magic moment when he was informed ‘You’re a Wallaby, Harry…’

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Australia’s English-born utility back, the player with the most enchanted name in rugby, revealed on Friday how he felt it was a huge honour to be handed his Wallabies debut.

But on his first tour with the national team, the 26-year-old admitted it came as a surprise that he should be pulled out of coach Joe Schmidt’s sorting hat to make his bow against Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday (Monday AEDT).

“It was nice to get in the squad, but getting in the team’s another thing, really,” admitted Western Force flyer Potter, who’s the 18th different player to be handed a debut for the Wallabies in 2024.

“But I was pretty keen to get my go. I’m really excited to have the opportunity and grateful the coaches have given me that chance.

“I was pretty shocked to be honest. The team’s obviously been going really well, and there’s been some good continuity, so it’s a huge honour to get that (selection announcement) in the team meeting. Yeah, a bit of a shock, and I’m excited for it.”

Potter, who made his name over in Britain with Premiership side Leicester, has always, inevitably, had to put up with the puns about his name, yet it felt somehow fitting that his first cap should be won in Edinburgh, the city where JK Rowling wrote the books about his fictional namesake.

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Down the years, the London-born player, who moved to Melbourne as a child and then returned to England to really launch his professional rugby career, has met all the jokes with patient good grace.

“It’s a good challenge for journalists to see if they can think of a unique or original Harry Potter pun,” he noted after originally being selected for the squad.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
1
Average Points scored
27
17
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
60%

“It’s been 26 years of it, so it’s pretty funny, I reckon. And yeah, tip my hat if you think of something original.”

There was nothing too original about his teammate James Slipper giving him the nickname “Wizard”, but now Potter really has the chance to live up to the name as he grabs the left wing berth.

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Reflecting on his rise on Friday, Potter reckoned he had enjoyed the best of both rugby worlds while playing in England before moving back to Australia.

“My views of rugby have probably changed quite a lot. I learned so much in Europe about how rugby differs up here. Arguably, it’s more of a Test match style of rugby, lots of set piece, lots of territory and kicking focus,” he said.

“Then, going back to Australia, Super Rugby is exciting, lots of attacking focus, backs getting their hands on the ball. So I’ve enjoyed that, and doing a little bit more of that at club level, and hopefully the Wallabies can put a bit of that out there at Murrayfield.

“I’m very grateful to have got the opportunity I did in the UK, and it worked out well for me but I wanted to come back to Australia, partly because I wanted to play for the Western Force, but largely because you can’t play for the Wallabies unless you’re playing rugby in Australia.

“I’m so grateful to have been able to make that debut happen – fingers crossed, in two more days.”

HSBC SVNS Perth takes place on 24-26 January at HBF Park. Plan your ultimate rugby weekend in Western Australia with the help of flexible travel packages including tickets and accommodation. Buy Now or Find Out More.  

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J
JW 51 minutes ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

There are a couple of inadequacies in this articles points as well.


First

Robertson, in what he has said publicly, is building his argument for change as a means to close the gap that is increasing between the All Blacks and South Africa.

Based on recent performances, the All Blacks are better than the Springboks.


Second

Both games saw the All Blacks lead coming into the last 30 minutes, only for the momentum to shift dramatically once the two sides emptied their respective benches.

The failings of the second half were game plan related, they happened regardless of whether the bench had yet (play got worse very early in the half, even in the first half) been used or not.


And third

Robertson’s view is that because the Boks don’t lose access to their experienced players when they head offshore, it gives them an advantage

Didn't Razor have the most experienced team all year?


Also

“Sam Cane and Ardie Savea with Wallace Siti, what a balance that is.

This is part of Razor's problem. That's a terrible balance. You instead want something like Sam Cane, Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Sititi. Or Ardie Savea, Sititi, Scott Barrett. Dalton Papaili'i, Savea, Finau. That is balance, not two old struggling to keep up players and an absolute rookie.

It has changed. Not many go north, more go to Japan, so how do we get the balance right to ensure that players who have given loyalty, longevity and who are still playing well

Experience is a priceless commodity in international rugby and New Zealand has a system where it throws away players precisely when they are at their most valuable.

You mean how do we take advantage of this new environment, because nothing has effectively changed has it. It's simply Japan now instead of Europe. What's it going to be like in the future, how is the new American league going to change things?


Mo'unga is the only real valid reason for debating change, but what's far more important is the wide discussion happening that's taking the whole game into account. The current modem throws players away because they decided to go with a 5 team model rather than a 12 or 14 team model. Players have to be asked to leave at the point were we know they aren't going to be All Blacks, when they are playing their best rugby, reached their peak. In order to reset, and see if the next guy coming through can improve on the 'peak' of the last guy. Of course it's going to take years before they even reach the departing players standards, let alone see if they can pass them.


What if there can be a change that enables New Zealand to have a model were players like Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ethan Roots, Warner Dearns are All Blacks that make their experienced and youth developemnt the envy of the World. That is the discussion that really needs to be had, not how easy it is to allow Mo'unga to play again. That's how the All Blacks end up winning 3 World Cups in a row.

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