'World-class: The four 'brilliant' England players listed as key threats by Wallabies star
Six years after watching the Wallabies succumb to a winless test series on home soil, Tate McDermott is eager to turn Australia’s luckless fortunes against England around next month.
McDermott will feature for the Wallabies against the touring English over the coming weeks in what promises to be a blockbuster three-test series in Australia, which kicks-off in Perth in a fortnight’s time.
The series will be the first between the two countries since England swept the Wallabies in Australia in 2016 with three wins from as many matches.
McDermott watched that series as a teenager on the Sunshine Coast, where the Wallabies are currently residing at the resort that the 23-year-old halfback worked at as a “dish pig” between 2015 and 2016.
Speaking to media from his former workplace on Thursday, McDermott reflected on the 2016 series, which kickstarted an active winless run for Australia against England that has lasted eight matches.
Eager to help the Wallabies snap that losing streak, McDermott is also aware of the difficulty that challenge poses.
Led by ex-Wallabies boss Eddie Jones, whose first assignment in charge of England was the 2016 series win over Australia, the English possess a wealth of talent and experience, making them favourites to enjoy further success Down Under.
Among those who make England as strong as they are include captain Owen Farrell, star lock Maro Itoje, veteran halfback Ben Youngs and promising youngster Marcus Smith, all of whom McDermott pinpointed as key figures for the English.
“Coming off a pretty good World Cup in 2015, I guess Australia were favourites at home, but it just proves – this year especially – the English are class,” McDermott said of England’s series win six years ago.
“They’ve got a brilliant core playing squad, which are pretty similar to the guys they brought over here [in 2016], guys like Farrell, Itoje, Youngs, even Marcus Smith.
“Obviously he [Smith] didn’t come over in 2016, but he’s a world-class player, and Eddie Jones is still there at the helm.
“Watching those games as a fan, obviously it’s disappointing losing all three, but at the same time, to see all the support that Australians showed, and also that the English showed up as well, it’s going to be a massive series and one that we’re really excited for.”
In order to negate the threats posed by those players, McDermott and his Wallabies teammates will have to be at their best across all three tests in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney throughout the course of July.
Competition for starting roles within the Wallabies camp may play its hand in ensuring the best is brought out of those within Dave Rennie’s squad.
In the case of McDermott, he faces an uphill battle to secure a starting place at halfback from Nic White and Jake Gordon, all of whom have valid claims to don the No 9 jersey at Optus Stadium in two weeks’ time.
Entering his third season as a Wallaby, McDermott is beginning to build the international experience to match his world-beating talents as a dangerous ball-running halfback.
However, he knows he can’t afford to rest on his laurels as training begins to ramp up with kick-off for the 2022 test campaign ticking closer and closer.
“It’s been a pretty good journey so far. It’ll be my third year in this set-up,” McDermott said.
“Just shows you that there’s so many other guys coming through that could be here as well, so not only am I lucky to be here, but just to have the players around me that I can learn off.
“Guys like Nic White, guys like Jake Gordon, Quade Cooper, all those kind of guys in this environment, what a brilliant chance for me to get better as a player and also as a person having the staff we have around here.
“There’s always that competition factor. Still very early days in the camp. We’ll start our field session tomorrow.
“We’re just doing light skills today, but I’m sure that extra fierceness and competitiveness between everyone, not just the halfbacks, but every position will come out, because at the end of the day, everyone wants to be starting.
“Everyone wants to be in that [match day] 23 come the Perth test match.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments