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Wallabies coach Dave Rennie says Fraser McReight will get his Test chances this year as he continues to push skipper Michael Hooper for a starting jersey at No.7.
Flanker McReight has been a standout in Queensland’s Super Rugby Pacific campaign to mount a strong case for his first Test start, with the three-match England tour looming in July and the September Bledisloe Cup series.
Leading into last week’s matches McReight had won more turnovers than any player in the Super Rugby competition.
The 23-year-old has only played two Tests in two years, coming off the bench for a total of 32 minutes at No.8, and needs more game time before next year’s Rugby World Cup in France.
Rennie agreed that McReight could do little more to earn selection.
“I agree Fraser has been outstanding,” Rennie told AAP.
“His continuity game has just gone to another level, and as we know he’s very good post tackle although he needs to make sure he’s disciplined around that as he’s given away a few penalties.
“He’s worked really hard on his defensive game so he’s doing everything he can.”
While not entirely ruling it out, Rennie thought that playing two specialist openside flankers — as previous Australia coaches have tried, using both Hooper and David Pocock — would “limit” the Wallabies lineout.
Hooper, 30, hasn’t skipped a beat since returning to the NSW Waratahs from a serious foot injury, with Rennie welcoming the competition in the No.7 position.
“Guys like Fraser are massive for us, not just in the depth, but the quality of our Super games, our Super teams and our ability to be competitive,” he said.
“You want guys who are going to fight for a spot.
“We put a lot of emphasis on earning the right to play so Fraser was excellent last year, trained really well, while Hoops (Hooper) was phenomenal.”
Rennie is able to bring in three overseas-based players to face England and said he was likely to do so, with Japan-based Samu Kerevi, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete and Rory Arnold the frontrunners.
But Rennie said who he selected would depend on Super Rugby form and injuries in the coming weeks.
“It’ll really depend on what happens over the next few weeks, so if we get a couple of injuries in one spot that’s going to become important for us and that may be the direction that we move in,” he said.
Australia’s first-choice playmaker James O’Connor is out with a knee injury but is targeting a return with Queensland in mid-May.
(Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)
Rennie felt three Super round-robin games, plus finals, would be enough for O’Connor to regain his touch.
“He’ll get a little bit of footy and he was playing really well leading into that … what we know is he’s trying to make the most of the time out now to ensure that medically when he’s ready to go he will hit the ground running,” Rennie said.
The All Blacks need to re-sign Japan-based No.10 Damian McKenzie to address a depth issue in the position, according to ABs legend John Kirwan.
Speaking on The Breakdown, Kirwan said Ian Foster should do everything to secure McKenzie as support to Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga.
The current depth list includes Josh Ioane, Bryn Gatland and Stephen Perofeta but Kirwan was adamant McKenzie’s experience was a must.
“He has got to be signed,” he said of the 27-year-old former Chiefs player who is with Suntory Sungoliath.
“If you are Ian Foster, you get on the plane and go and sign him. He is fundamental to us winning the next World Cup.
“I still think he is the best off the bench player late in a Test match ever. We totally missed him in the 2019 World Cup game against Japan.”
Waratahs assistant coach Jason Gilmore said it was important Australian teams kept some perspective despite an encouraging start to the trans-Tasman component of the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The Tahs secured a major upset win over Crusaders on the weekend – at odds as high as $15.
Gilmore, who was in charge of the Australian under 20s team that came second at the 2019 World Cup, suggested the emergence of that talent was staring to pay dividends in Australian franchises.
“I said at the time it takes three years to become a really good Super player unless you’re an absolute freak and can just jump into it,” Gilmore said.
“It’s 2022 now, those boys are three years older, they’ve experienced Super Rugby for three years they understand the needs.
“They’re understanding the level they need to be at. The coaches have been patient with them, whereas five or six years ago a lot of those boys would have been spat out, they’d be overseas after 12 months because they couldn’t handle Super.
“So I think the patience in the development in all the franchises across Australia has been really good and that’s why you’re now seeing them get regular starts and pushing into Wallabies squads.”
Gilmore said it was important for Australian rugby that teams are competitive in Super Rugby.
“Obviously last year Australian teams didn’t fare too well across the board against New Zealand teams,” he said.
“For the credibility of the competition you don’t want big scoreline blowouts.
“For the sake of Australian rugby on a number of fronts it’s important we compete, not just compete but win games and get into championship games.
“We’re getting there. I wouldn’t say on the weekend, just because there were close games, that all the ground’s been made up and everything is hunky dory.
“I still think we’re probably a step or two behind but we are catching up and I think the next month of football will show if the Aussies teams can turn those close losses into close victories. When you get consistent wins that’s when you can say Aussie teams are catching up or have caught up.”
All Blacks great Jeff Wilson attempted a reality check for the Tahs on The Breakdown, saying the absence of Richie Mo’unga, rested because of ABs protocols, was the reason the Crusaders loss.
“This team was struggling last year. They were young, inexperienced – they’ve got some players into their environment who have made a huge difference,” Wilson said.
“Michael Hooper, in that environment, has led them from the front. He is a world-class leader and player, but two words: Richie Mo’unga, was not playing in this game for the Crusaders.
“He is their talisman, he is their best player. He has been multiple time Super Rugby Player of the Year, so when you take a key player, a key piece of your puzzle out of it, your first-five, you don’t win this competition without a world-class fly-half.
“It is proven over time in history, so I don’t read anything into this result, other than the fact that they’ve now lost control of their destiny, particularly about controlling playing at home in the playoffs.
“For me, Scott Robertson’s got some things that he’ll want to deal with, but in the end, his best player, his most influential player, was not playing because he was on rest duties. It was time for him to have a week off.”
But Kirwan was much more complimentary of the Tahs.
The Crusaders are starting slow. They’re traditionally really good starters, they put pressure on at the start of the game. They’ve been starting slow all year, but I also think the Waratahs have been building,” Kirwan said.
“When you listen to them after the game and you listen to them talk, they’re saying ‘we’re building a family’, you can see the culture starting to turn around, and I think they played out of themselves.”
(With AAP)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.