1
The Wallabies advice that turned Harry Wilson's season around
Mystery surrounds the make-up of the Wallabies’ side to face France in their Brisbane series opener on Wednesday as halfback Jake Gordon makes a late push to wear the No 9.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Waratahs captain is recovering well from a knee injury and has returned to full training this week as he vies with emerging Queensland talent Tate McDermott for the starting role.
Nic White (knee) won’t feature, while veteran playmakers Matt Toomua (neck) and James O’Connor (groin) are also under significant injury clouds, leaving Noah Lolesio and Reece Hodge in the mix to wear the No.10.
There is competition for a backrow spot too, with Harry Wilson and Rob Valetini paired together at their locked-down Gold Coast training base after waging war for the Reds and Brumbies respectively this season.
The roommates could share the backrow duties with No 7 and skipper Michael Hooper, although veteran Isi Naisarani finished the season strongly and Lachie Swinton is also knocking on the door for another chance after being red-carded in his test debut last year.
“I actually don’t know,” Wilson said of the likely team. “We’ve been changing every single session, not like last year, it’s been changing very frequently.
“There’s not much of a rivalry in the (backrow) because we’re all really good mates, but it does push you so much.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It’s hard because there’s five, six quality backrowers there and we’re fighting for four spots.”
Wilson’s status looked shaky when he began the Super Rugby AU season slowly, before exploding back to his game-breaking best against the New Zealand outfits.
That form surge coincided with a mid-season Wallabies camp where he said coach Dave Rennie’s advice resonated.
The Wallabies feel a recent taste of New Zealand rugby has set them up well for the test series against France, which opens next Wednesday in Brisbane. #Wallabies #AUSvFRA https://t.co/CZlFA5HODx
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 2, 2021
“I do reckon I definitely over-thought my footy, coming off the (2020) test season (where he played every game and shone under Rennie) I wanted to play some good footy without doing the little things you need to do well.
“The big shift was making it simpler; if there’s a hole there, back yourself to get through it.
ADVERTISEMENT
“From Dave it was ‘go back and play a simple game’ and for me that’s run hard and use a bit of footwork at the line and get my hands on the ball as much as I could.
“That was my main focus in attack and dumb things down in attack, some line speed and energy there and that’s what I focused on and I felt there was a fair bit of improvement from there.”
– Murray Wenzel
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
40 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.
40 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
40 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
40 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.
40 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.
40 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.
40 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