Queensland Reds sharp-shooter Mike Harris can elevate himself onto the Wallabies bench by piloting University to a Queensland club premiership on Sunday.
New Zealand product Harris will play just his third match for Uni in the grand final against defending premiers Sunnybank at Ballymore but has a huge role to play.
The goalkicking No.10 or 12 returns to the five-eighth position where he stared the year for the Reds in a match which doubles as a Test audition for him.
Quade Cooper’s knee injury will see Kurtley Beale promoted to the Wallabies starting 15 to play South Africa in Pretoria on September 30, leaving a spare spot on the bench.
With just 10 minutes of on-field action over the past month, Harris is delighted Test coach Robbie Deans has allowed him a late Tuesday flight to the Republic.
“I’m really excited about it,” he told AAP.
“Obviously I haven’t played a lot of rugby for the Wallabies so the chance to get some footy in and to play in a grand final is huge.
“I’m definitely excited to have a go at 10. I haven’t played a lot there this year so it’s good.
“With Quade needing another operation it opens up a spot and hopefully I have a good showing in the grand final in the 10 jersey to prove my wares and push for that bench spot.
“I definitely want to grab the chance.”
Harris will line up against fellow Wallabies squad-members Ben Tapuai and Rob Simmons who will team up for Sunnybank.
It’s a battle of the 2010 champions (Uni) against the 2011 premiers and both enter the clash in strong form following respective thumpings of Brothers.
Uni will also feature Reds players James Hanson and Luke Morahan while the Dragons boast Queensland props Greg Holmes and Albert Anae and Melbourne Rebels fullback Richard Kingi.
welsh
Guest
just accept the all blacks have foreign born talent as the wallabies do, take a deep breath and accept it.
Red Kev
Guest
What's the big deal. People want to move to Australia because it's an awesome place that offers a lot of opportunity. Are people surprised by that? You can't choose where you're born, you can choose where you live once you're an adult. The far more significant factors in anyone's life are the things they choose. I am astonished by the small-minded views being exposed here, especially by people who I've often thought have had sensible comments to contribute in the past.
Jerry
Guest
You think Stuff makes up quotes? Cause here's what they quote Kepu as saying about that meeting with Cron. ''That was it. From that moment I never went back to No 8,'' Kepu said yesterday. How about an Australian source - maybe they're misquoting him too. http://www.pandasports.com.au/2011/07/26/kepu-keen-to-repay-mentors-with-wallabies-win/ “It was Mike (Cron) who helped convert me from a guy who was a bit chubby for a No. 8 into a prop before the final trial for the NZ Under-19s (in 2005),” Kepu said. How about his profile on the Tah's website? http://www.waratahs.com.au/Waratahs/Team/SuperRugbySquad/PlayerPage/tabid/182/playerid/17/Default.aspx "Current All Blacks forwards coach Mike Cron shifted Kepu from the back row to prop, where he enjoyed enormous successes with the Waikato Chiefs and Counties Manukau between 2005 and 2007" Or his Wallaby Player Profile? http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/TheTeam/WallabiesProfiles/ProfilePage/tabid/1513/playerid/81/Default.aspx "Kepu is a former No 8 who was converted into a prop by the current New Zealand assistant coach, and front row specialist Mike Cron."
Jutsie
Guest
Its official, "discussion" on the roar has reached an all new low.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
IMO there is a huge difference between moving in your nappies and moving as a high school kid. It is the early ages where the passion and skills for the game are learned and taught. Cooper already had his rugby roots sewn before he moved to Aussie as a teenager. In comparison someone like Mills was still pooping his pants when he moved to NZ. Samoa can be credited with supplying Mills fresh air for two years where as the New Zealand system can be credited with developing half of Coopers rugby life. That imo makes things significantly different.
welsh
Guest
Oh no i understand where you are coming from, I just dont agree. If you think stuff nz is great reference material, well then thats up to you. I reckon the Tahs developed his scrummaging
Jerry
Guest
Reading comprehension not so great, then?
welsh
Guest
Yeah dont know about that. he was an 8 in nz
barcode
Guest
the all blacks do have a history of foreign players
Jerry
Guest
Well, yeah - cause it's been 5 years since he switched. But he'd packed more scrums in NZ when the Wallabies selected him.
Jerry
Guest
I believe the only current AB not born in NZ is Ben Franks, but his parents are Kiwis so he'd still be an NZer by birth. So none, then.
welsh
Guest
I think he has packed more scrums in Oz than NZ.
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, because Mike Cron - one of the premier scrum coaches in the world - did nothing for him.
welsh
Guest
He learned his trade at the Tahs, they taught him to scrummage.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
It amazes me what some people come up with. And most of the players people say NZ poached were still doing abc's when they moved to NZ so either they played all thier rugby in NZ or we have the best pre teen talent scouts in the world.
welsh
Guest
I dont see how wanting to grow up being a wallaby has anything to do with it. Tana Umunga wanted to play league. he only started playing union after he got home sick with the newcastle knights. he didn't want to be an all black growing up. I reckon drawing the line on when and where poaching starts is up to the IRB and I dont mind the system as it is know. Although I don't like the whole country of your grandparents business. As I said I don't like Mike Harris playing for Australia. I don't mind the residency rules. I believe its three years and that seems fair to me. People migrate around the world and that is a fact of life. a professional rugby players career is very short so three years is a long time if you migrated for that reason. I don't know about the jumping ship comment though? If you dont like the system maybe you could do something about it. The system as it is allows for your foreign imports as it does ours. The people who migrated to NZ and the people that migrated to Australia.
Jerry
Guest
Uh...no. He was converted to prop by Mike Cron as below. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/5341843/Sekope-Kepu-Aussie-No-1-that-got-away "After making the New Zealand under-19s, Mike Cron, the All Blacks scrum coach, turned his life upside-down. At the team camp, Cron walked up to Kepu and said: ''You're moving to the front row. I want to teach you how to be a loosehead.'' That was in 2004, after which he played NZ U-21's and for Counties before moving to the Tahs in 2008, gaining Wallaby selection the same year.
Jerry
Guest
It's a load of bollocks, so you won't get any.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Mr Red name one current All Black who is not a New Zealander by birth? I am interested to know as i genuinely can't think of one.
stillmatic1
Guest
quade is definitely on the fence in that regard welsh. and i agree with you, that oz did take over in his development. but did he ever want to be a wallaby before the age of 15? again, its not simply about birth place. is there no difference between a 2 year old and a 15 year old, or in the case of samo/timani, 19 years old, or harris as a 22 year old? if there isnt, then heaven help us, might us well get rid of national identity all together. maybe then we wont have to hate the yanks so much, hey!?