The rising Super Rugby talent set to make his mark in a star-studded Western Force side
Australian rugby has a decorated history of player development throughout its schoolboy and U20 levels, with numerous representatives having gone on to become Wallabies legends.
Phil Waugh (1997) and Kurtley Beale (2006) both captained the Australian schoolboy teams in their respective years, while Rod Kafer and Matt Burke also donned the green and gold at that level.
Western Force utility back Jack McGregor was following in the footsteps of these and other giants of the game when he was selected in both the New South Wales and Australian schoolboy sides in 2014 and 2015.
Having also put pen to paper with the Melbourne Rebels in 2016, before being selected in the Australians U20 squad a year later, everything was pointing towards immediate success in the sport.
But a horror run of injuries changed his career direction, with the exciting prospect leaving the Rebels without playing a Super Rugby match.
In 2018, McGregor took up an opportunity with the Force which helped breathe new life into a promising young career.
“Coming out of school, straight into an ACL reconstruction and then an ankle reconstruction, it wasn’t ideal, and it changed the way I saw the progression of my career going. It’s also made me quite mentally strong to deal with those injuries and to bounce back,” McGregor told RugbyPass.
“I’m very grateful for the Force because they gave me a second opportunity at playing professional rugby. Since coming here I’ve found a new love for the game, and thoroughly enjoy training and playing, and just the culture here is amazing and also the lifestyle.
“[It’s] funny how things worked now that the Force are back in Super Rugby and now I get that opportunity to fulfil that childhood dream that I chased when I was in Melbourne but now I get to do in Western Australia.”
After a couple of years playing with the Force, McGregor truly announced himself on the national stage with an impressive rookie Super Rugby campaign.
Some believe he should play at fullback while others think he could be a wing or midfielder, but where does Leon MacDonald see Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s positional future in rugby union?https://t.co/llaPwxW5Jl
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 6, 2021
He played in all eight of his sides matches in 2020, starting all but one.
The now 23-year-old proved to be an integral part of the Force, starring at mainly fullback but also starting at flyhalf in one match against the Queensland Reds on the Gold Coast.
For the Force, 2020 was a second chance to prove themselves at that level – and the same could be said about many of their players, McGregor included.
“I was happy with some games and obviously there [was] a lot to work on. For my first experience in Super Rugby there were a few positives but definitely things to work on which I’ve focused on this preseason.
“But I think it’s just getting games under your belt so now you’ve sort of ticked off that box of playing Super Rugby and fulfilling that dream, now it’s just about cementing your spot and not just being there to take part but to try and to have a good injection in a game.”
An influx of experienced test players has set McGregor a challenge to hold his place in the starting side for 2021, with the Force now having impressive depth across their squad.
Rob Kearney is arguably the most notable addition to the Force’s ranks for the 2021 season, with the 34-year-old having been capped 95 times for Ireland and touring with the British and Irish Lions twice.
“In every team you want competition for spots because it makes you train harder and work harder to get there.
“Personally, having a guy like Rob come in especially, he’s one of the most decorated players. It’s been brilliant for me. It’s an opportunity for me to learn and get better myself, and just pick his brain at certain things.
“Bringing in the international guys has obviously increased the standard of training and competition for spots so they’ve driven high standards and expected a lot from the other players which is good.”
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McGregor added that his “big goal” for the upcoming campaign is just to take each game as it comes, as he looks to cement his spot in the starting XV while doing Force fans proud.
“I just want to take it one step at a time, try and focus on cementing myself in the team and then playing really good rugby.
“[I] definitely just want to put my best foot forward and play the best I can for the Force and also for the sea of blue, the fans and the members.”
The Force have also bolstered their ranks with former Wallabies Tevita Kuridrani and Tom Robertson, as well as Pumas players Tomas Cubelli, Domingo Miotti, Santiago Medrano and Tomas Lezana, and Australian sevens representative Tim Anstee.
These players will line up alongside former All Blacks Jeremy Thrush and Richard Kahui, internationals from tier two nations such as Marcel Brache (USA) and Henry Taefu (Samoa), and returning former Wallabies in Kyle Godwin and Greg Holmes.
It’s no surprise, then, that McGregor is excited about the upcoming season, with the Force having made “some big improvements” throughout the preseason while building on their depth.
It would seem that on paper, the Force’s hopes of recording that elusive first win back in Super Rugby appears fairly strong.
“Coming into this season we don’t just want to win one game, we want to win them all.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments