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Tom Wright started the Brumbies’ semi-final as a triple threat and the favourite to wear the No.15 jersey for the Wallabies at this year’s World Cup. Unfortunately, he will leave Hamilton as a triple concern.
With a number of Wallaby hopefuls already on the Gold Coast, Eddie Jones would have hoped to have written down Wright’s name in the fullback position to face South Africa next month on Saturday night.
But after a night where little came off for the mercurial playmaking fullback, Jones will be thinking about reaching for the pencil rather than the pen.
Indeed, any lingering concerns over Wright playing at fullback was brutally opened as the rocks and diamonds nature of his game returned at the pointy end of the Super Rugby season.
His ugly night at fullback contributed to the Brumbies semi-final defeat, as the clinical Chiefs ground down Australia’s best to win 19-6 at home.
First, there was his needless gift to the Chiefs in the opening minutes as Wright dropped the ball on the toe to give away possession and relieve the pressure for the home side.
At that point, the Brumbies were hot on attack and battering away. With points gold and field position gold, the visitors needed to keep it tight.
Then on the stroke of half-time, as the Brumbies kept fronting up and playing for each other just like they had done to reach the final four, Wright searched for the sideline from their goal-line dropout.
It was an individual, hot-headed moment that very nearly came back to bite the Brumbies and, indeed, Wright.
“That decision from Tom Wright, you could understand his intent, but execution well off,” former Wallabies outside back Drew Mitchell said in commentary for Stan.
“Puts his team under so much pressure.”
Morgan Turinui added: “I think if you’re Tom Wright in that dropout, you’ve got to drill it as hard as you can. Now this pressure, this could be the match right here.”
Tom Wright struggled for the Brumbies against the Chiefs as his decision-making came back to haunt him. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Later, as the minutes ticked by in the second half, Wright’s decision-making – the great concern over the 25-year-old – once again was exposed.
His late decision to kick in the 43rd minute didn’t come back to haunt him, as it ricocheted into a teammate’s hand.
“We just saw there, Tom Wright coming from the back field, the kick, it was poorly executed, they got away with it,” Mitchell said.
“Sometimes you miss your executions because you’re trying to think between two different decisions. Back your first and just go with it.”
Turinui added: “That’s a great lesson. Whatever your first instinct is, just go with it. Especially in wet-weather, finals footy.”
Tom Wright passes during the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final match against the Chiefs at FMG Stadium Waikato on June 17, 2023, in Hamilton. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Unfortunately, Wright’s decision-making did hurt later in the 69th minute, as the fullback was held up “getting caught too upright in his carry” just short of the halfway line, as he attempted to seize back the momentum lost over the previous few minutes.
“A little bit there for Tom Wright of what you’ve been talking about Drew, first instinct looked like he was going to kick there,” Turinui said.
“Don’t get bored of the kick battle. It’s 9-6, the team that dominates where the game is played is going to win this game. It does not matter who has the ball.”
Unfortunately for the Brumbies, the scrum resulted in another three points as Damian McKenzie slotted a long-range penalty.
Needing a try and time no longer their friend, Wright’s frustrating night continued as his basketball-style pass on the edge was called forward as he hoped to find the retreating Andy Muirhead. Once again, it backfired.
Wright is by no means the first player to leave New Zealand shores with his stocks hurt. The question is, how badly will they be looked upon by Jones?
With few standout alternatives, as well as Max Jorgensen long odds to be fit for the World Cup, could he see them as a lesson for Wright to learn from?
After all, his impressive season with ball-in-play had helped the Brumbies reach the semi-finals.
But with Test matches, particularly crucial knockout matches at a World Cup, notoriously won and lost on pressure-filled moments and decisive decision-making, particularly from the person wearing the No.15 jersey, it will be something Jones will want answers from.
Jones doesn’t mind mistakes being made. He just wants lessons learned.
Meanwhile, another Tom, Tom Hooper, put his hand up for the Wallabies as he got through a mountain of work during an 80-minute performance.
Shifted to openside flanker to give the Brumbies another bigger body in the back-row, the decision was an astute one by Stephen Larkham.
As Rob Valetini rolled up the sleeves and delivered another starring role, Hooper made 15 tackles and was the Brumbies’ second-highest ball-carrier behind his back-row teammate. He even put pressure on the breakdown in a game that was fierce from the outset.
His missed tackle on McKenzie late in the piece wouldn’t have been missed by Jones, with work-rate crucial for any flanker, but it was likely enough for the Wallabies coach to think the rising 22-year-old is strongly worth considering for his wider Rugby Championship squad.
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.