Reece Hodge is returning to the scene of his greatest rugby triumph and ready to step in again as playmaker at Suncorp Stadium when the Wallabies host France on Wednesday.
Hodge guided Australia to a 24-22 upset win against the All Blacks at the Brisbane venue last year in just his second Test start at five-eighth.
With 45 Tests to his name playing in various positions, the versatile Hodge is looming as the most experienced backline player available for the first Test amid injuries to key veterans.
Halfback Nic White (knee) has already been ruled out while five-eighth James O’Connor (groin) and inside centre Matt Toomua (neck) aren’t expected to be available until the second Test in Melbourne on July 13.
That loss of experience may see coach Dave Rennie opt for the reliable Hodge, a big, strong ball-runner and defender with a big boot, over Brumbies youngster Noah Lolesio at No.10 despite the Melbourne Rebels playmaker himself being sidelined with a knee injury since early April.
Lolesio said on Sunday who wore the No.10 remained the “million-dollar question” but he had matured his game since a forgettable debut against the All Blacks last year.
The Wallabies are keeping tight-lipped about their halves combination and whether O’Connor will play but Hodge was more definitive.
“Definitely, but I’ve got no expectations – I’m extremely grateful to have been selected in the squad after missing the last couple of months of Super Rugby,” Hodge told AAP.
“The guys who have been in form in Super Rugby should be the one in the box seat in terms of selection but the ability to push your case through training is exciting.
“Me, Noah, Tate (McDermott), Ryan Lonergan and Jake (Gordon) who is coming back in from injury, we’re all pushing for a couple of spots in the halves until Rabbs (O’Connor) is 100 per cent fit.”
Reece Hodge (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Winger Marika Koroibete (34 Tests) and fullback Tom Banks (11) are the only other players in double figures for Test caps but Hodge backed a raw backline to be up to the challenge.
“They’ve still got to select the team but having Whitey, Pup (Toomua) and Rabbs (O’Connor) not available for the first match is a big hit in terms of experience,” he said.
“But the guys who are fit have shown that they’re more than capable of matching it at Super Rugby Trans-Tasman level and while a few of the guys in the backline have only played a handful of Tests they look right at home.
“The whole squad is pretty excited about what our backline can potentially do in stringing some consistent performances together off the back of some go-forward ball off an exciting forward pack.”
Check out the full Wallabies’ fixture for the series against France here.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure about that.
MO
Guest
Hodge also has a pretty good nose for the try line.
MO
Guest
Hodge would make the Brumbies if Rennie was their coach.
The Hen
Roar Rookie
Agree one of the best defenders around
Oblonsky’s Other Pun
Guest
Yeah totally agree with you that it is a problem with all world cups, and one of the reasons that I would love to go back to the pre-world cup era. And as BF says, it means that the coach doesn’t necessarily select the best player at any one time.
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
Attacking players would be crazy to run at Hodge; he is hard as nails. Also, he can find touch on another suburb.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
I’ve always thought that test selection and being a National representative, should be the reward for the best player available on the day. If you are the best only once, you deserve the recognition.Test rugby should never be three and a half years of trial and error for a two month carnival every four years.
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
As long as he doesn't kick for goal I'm happy for him to be in the team
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
It's a really now or never for NL. If he hasn't proven himself yet with incumbents injured and a weakened French side, then a different crop like Donaldson, Lucas and Harrison will be pushing for selection.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
I don’t know why anyone would put a 12 at 10 and a 10 at 12? And Toomua’s form isn’t great in 2021. But he’d be a way better option than Hodge.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Because Hodge wouldn’t make any other international team. He wouldn’t make the Brumbies.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
It did fire with Quade - they scored plenty of points but didn’t have a tight 5.
Jezdexter
Roar Rookie
My memory of Hodge "guiding" the Wallabies to that win are that White took the playmaking role as a 9 and Hodge organised the defence and used his boot from 10. Not saying Hodge was bad, quite the contrary, but White was excellent and very few other 9s could take on that role. With 9 most likely being Tate and 15 Banks one of the 10/12 has to be a rookie and none of the 12 options add as much as Lolesio. If MT is fit he's 12 Hodge on the bench. If not Hodge 12. Either way Lolesio should be starting given he's easily the best 10 option with no JoC and in the minds of some (well me anyway) the best 10 option even with JoC.
soapit
Roar Guru
Nah I don't think that's the only question to be asking
numpty
Roar Rookie
Says the bloke in a comments section of a niche rugby site...
numpty
Roar Rookie
Maybe it's the rebels backline that's the problem, not Hodge. After all, it hasn't fired with Quade, Genia or toomua...
numpty
Roar Rookie
Biggar doesn't know who Hodge is because he is yet to join the exclusive club of flyhalves who've beaten the all blacks :silly:
numpty
Roar Rookie
I don't disagree but the point remains that Hodge kicks out a "development" player wherever he slots in and that those beside him will want him there whatever spot he goes. Question is where can he are most value and disrupt the team the least??? I'll let Rennie choose. I can see merits from 10-13 if JOC and toomua are out and then have him at 15 if one of them come back.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Rassies team even in 2018 would have 300-500 additional intl caps worth of experience so it's apples and oranges. As I said I'm not a fan of the stop gap either and would largely agree that centre may be the best spot for him, but I'll leave that to Rennie. But no doubt his experience will be invaluable no matter where he plays. He has more caps then the rest combined outside of Marika. That counts for alot in Intls.
soapit
Roar Guru
but 10 is a position of most need to develop someone probably over 9 and 12 atm with time starting to run out