Why Wallabies star considers McReight one of world’s best openside flankers

Wallabies backrower Rob Valetini believes teammate Fraser McReight is one of the world’s best openside flankers, outlining the Queensland skipper’s relentless work rate and influence behind the scenes with the national team.

Rugby World Cup winner Jeremy Paul said on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby in October 2024 that McReight was “the best seven in the world currently.” The Wallaby is now 42 Tests into his international career and continues to tun heads in a world-renowned loose forwards trio.

McReight was crowned the fan voted MVP after the Wallabies 42-26 defeat to France during the Nations Championship at Suncorp Stadium, with the flanker producing a standout performance at his home ground.

With the reigning Six Nations champions in town, McReight delivered a two-try haul, won a couple of turnovers, and finished with 17 stops in defence. The 27-year-old made a try-saving effort just before half-time as well, beating Matthieu Jailbert in a race for a loose ball.

Injury saw McReight shift to the bench for the 47-point win over Italy at HBF-Park, with Perth-born Carlo Tizzano instead given an opportunity to start. But the combination of Valetini, McReight and captain Harry Wilson has been a regular trio in Wallabies team sheets.

“I think Fraser is probably one of the best sevens going around in the world,” Valetini told reporters.

“That work-back that you saw against France where it could have been a try for France but he worked back and was able to recover that ball and make something happen.

“That’s probably one of the things that I love Fraser, he always gives his best and he cares for the team as well.

“He’s definitely right up there.”

McReight was a mainstay of the Wallabies starting side under former coach Joe Schmidt, with Wilson emerging as the longest-serving team captain in quite some time. Tom Hooper and Nick Champion de Crespigny got starts at blindside, but Valetini was the regular first-choice.

‘Bobby V’ received the John Eales Medal (Wallabies Player of the Year) at the 2024 Rugby Australia Awards, joining a legendary list of multi-time winners. The 27-year-old made a handful of starts at blindside last season, and held down that position during the July Tests this year.

“I was able to get the break between Super and Wallabies. During Super, my body, I had a few niggles and stuff and going into the Wallabies was a bit better,” Valetini reflected.

“I was able to focus a lot more on my role at the Wallabies and I was probably more certain of my role there, out there in the wide channels or running hardballs of the 12s and 13s.

“I think it was probably just mindset and I was able to get a good break and refresh for the Wallaby season. I thought that helped me out a lot.”

It’s the start of a new era for the Wallabies, with Les Kiss taking over from Schmidt as head coach, 14 months out from Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. Kiss has brought in a new-look coaching team as well, including former All Blacks assistant coach Scott McLeod.

The Wallabies are just days away from their first Test under Kiss, which will be against a Japan side coached by Eddie Jones. Jones led the Wallabies to the 2023 Rugby World Cup before returning to the Brave Blossoms.

Japan secured an impressive win over Italy to kick off their Nations Championship campaign, before falling to Ireland and France. The Brave Blossoms, who lost to the Wallabies by only four points last October, certainly pose a tough challenge

“Japan are a team that love to play fast and we saw a few of their games against France and Ireland where they were taking quick taps, even in their half,” he explained.

“We know that they want to play fast and obviously it’s quite hot there. I think they’ll try to use that to their game plana and try to run us off our feet.

“It’ll be important for us to adapt to the weather here and we have been doing that with our saunas daily and training as well. Hopefully we’re prepared well for the weekend.”