Even if he doesn’t snap a five-year Test absence, Greg Holmes should still have fond memories of his shock recall to the Wallabies squad on the Gold Coast.
The 38-year-old played 27 Tests between 2005-2016 before leaving the Queensland Reds for the English Premiership until making a surprise 2020 return to Australia with the Western Force.
With tighthead props scant in Dave Rennie’s squad and travel restrictions causing logistical nightmares, Holmes was drafted in as injury cover while the side was based in Perth.
He’s now arrived on the Gold Coast with the team ahead of four Tests in four weeks in his native Queensland.
While shocked and thrilled to receive the call from Rennie, there was just one issue.
“I was pretty bloody busy last week,” the expectant father said.
“We had everything set up there in Perth so I had to have some pretty serious talks with my wife.
“I was pretty keen to have a Queensland baby, so we ran around, got everything sorted, got the hospital sorted out over here on the Gold Coast and (we’ll) fly her over here on Thursday.
“So, hoping everything goes to plan and we’ll have a baby boy at the start of October.”
The battle-hardened prop will also provide some rare perspective to a young team licking wounds after a Bledisloe Cup clean sweep.
World champions South Africa and the livewire Argentina await – the Wallabies play the Springboks on the Gold Coast on Sunday – and Holmes is pushing out the positivity.
“I thought (in the two previous Tests in Auckland) our scrum was really, really good,” he said.
“I’m trying to get guys not overawed by the situation; when the chips are down, you lose a couple of Tests to New Zealand, they need to know it’s not the end of the world.
“If we can impose our game on them (South Africa), it’s only going to benefit us.
“You have to nullify that set piece. They’re a big team but I think we’ve got the players here to do that.
“If we can impose our fast-paced game, get some field position against them, start running them off their feet and make them uncomfortable, that’s how you have to beat them.
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Hahahah
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
This is the problem with these covid tournaments held in bubbles on tour for weeks. 9 months later the players and their partners are popping out kids.
mailman
Guest
Tooly, I'd definitely love to see Lee-Warner given a crack against the Boks, his abrasiveness, skillset and work rate would serve the Wallabies well but Ready is way too unfit and prone to stupid reactions when under pressure.
Hazel Nutt
Roar Rookie
I would have liked to have seen them pick up Godwin while they were in the west. With Paisami out our 13s are Ikitau and maybe Petaia, and when Godwin was covering 13 for the Force early in the year I thought he looked about their best player. All this talk about the Wallabies lacking composure, I definitely think he'd bring a little of that.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Great news. Bit oldish but great scrummager. Won't do much around the field but neither does Taniela (last 3 games anyway). Obviously Pone gets a shot before Holmes, but you just never know. It's always a risk throwing on a debut prop, especially against the Boks.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Such a quality bloke. It doesn’t say much for our TH stocks though. If Pone is injured, I’m not sure who else might be considered test standard if AAA leaves the squad.
jeznez
Roar Guru
GH! Amazing! Congratulations!!!!!!
Tooly
Roar Rookie
In anticipation of a match refereed by Nick Berry. Berry used to feed the scrum with Greg. Ready and Lee-Warner are two I’d have against SA.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Thank you ols as it sounds a good policy, and appreciate the feedback :thumbup:
Harry Jones
Expert
Bok looseheads scratching they heads!
The Crow Flies Backwards
Roar Rookie
How much are they paying all these guys? Isn’t RA nearly broke?
ols
Roar Pro
I believe Holmes, Thrush and maybe Kearney were already transitioning to coaching with the Force next year. Cooper and now Holmes seem to be as much there as help and guidance with younger players as anything to help Rennie try and push our youth through as quickly as possible
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Pone is injured. Part of the reason Holmes is there.
CPM
Roar Rookie
Copying Rassie is see by brining in old heads to mingle and coach the youngsters in the international window. At RWC 2019 Britz was the old man at 38, Flo was 35. This year it is the two Steyn’s at 37 and 34, while Thor is 35.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Yes everyone I am just joking :thumbup:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Australia will beat NZ then soon, the team with the most newborn babies :silly:
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Brett..I have no gripes about this..it is a guy with a decent amount of caps that has a reputation of scrummaging well.. :thumbup:
Mo
Guest
Someone needs to teach pone to scrum and he won’t have been coached by Holmes yet. Holmes also good to work on the looseheads.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
That does make sense carnivean
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Covid squad restrictions and the lack of a clear option are driving it more than you'd expect normally, but the key to NZ not doing it is that they don't have to.