As Stephen Hoiles tipped Tom Wright to re-emerge in 2024, the electric Brumbies fullback says ensuring he has more positive involvements rather than negative ones is the key to unlocking his true potential.
The forgotten Wallaby was brutally axed from Eddie Jones’ side midway through the home calendar last year.
It came off the back of a couple of costly errors from Wright for both the Brumbies and Wallabies, where the 26-year-old paid the ultimate price of turning over possession in the wrong areas of the field.
But few thought Wright would be left out of the World Cup squad given his ability to conjure up something out of nothing and keep defences second-guessing.
His ability to play on the wing and jump into ball-playing roles was another factor that looked like giving him an edge.
Yet Jones came down harshly on the Brumbies fullback, who spent time with the Barbarians instead across the English Channel.
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Tom Wright . (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
Last weekend, Wright delivered a timely reminder of his skill set as he scored two tries and played a hand in another couple, including his gorgeous cross-field kick inside his 22-metre line to a flying Corey Toole to set up an outrageous coast-to-coast try.
The talented fullback downplayed the stunning try, instead saying he was consistently trying to close the gap between his best and worst.
“I always play on the edge,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“In the past, there’s been moments of that and there’s also been the other side of the coin too, where it potentially hurts our team and puts us under a little bit of pressure when those moments don’t come off.
“I’m trying to find that fine line and make sure I’m fine-tuning [that area] to have more positive moments on the team than ones where [props] Slips [James Slipper} and Harry [Vella] are looking at me wondering why they’ve got to go to set-piece again.
“That’s probably my biggest work-on.”
Wright will face stiff competition for the No.15 jersey, with Andrew Kellaway impressing in the early stages of the Super Rugby competition and Rugby Australia intent on opening the cheque book to re-sign young gun Max Jorgensen. Both players made Jones’ World Cup squad, while Ben Donaldson also featured at fullback.
But former Wallabies back-rower turned coach Hoiles said he was left scratching his head during last year’s World Cup when Wright wasn’t in France.
“He had a couple of big mistakes in two Test matches last year that cost him dearly,” Hoiles said on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts.
“We’ve got so much going on during the World Cup last year and there was a Barbarians squad. I remember seeing a photo of the Barbarians and just looking going ‘hang on.’
“Why is Tom Wright not in the Wallabies – like six weeks after it was named? He’s only ever been good for every team he’s played in.
“He had two moments in the Test series leading up to the World Cup selection. Like that’s a huge, quality player we left out of that World Cup squad.”
Hoiles added that Wright’s response from the tough blow was a positive for Australian rugby.
“That can go one of two ways,” Hoiles said.
“Players can spit the dummy and not work hard in the offseason.
He’s a Sydney boy, he was back up and down the highway (to Canberra), doing speed training all summer, working his backside off.
“And, yeah, it looks as though (Brumbies coach Stephen) Larkham’s given them a little bit more of a licence to counter from deep…
“The freedom they’re playing with – he’s just making (winger) Corey Toole look better. He’s helping (fly-half Noah) Lolesio.
“That’s a sign of a really good player when the players inside and outside you are thriving. I thought he was excellent the other night and there were a couple that got pulled back that could have been tries for him. He’s just constantly threatening.
“He’s going to have a good year for us.”
Wright will get another chance to show his worth on Saturday night, as the Brumbies travel to Brisbane to take on the Reds who boast a star-studded backline including Wallabies back Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia and Jock Campbell.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Quite possible all that's correct but I'm very very hopeful Schmidt will get us that 5 % Rennie teams lacked and Eddie never was going to get ..very hopeful in fact.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Well you did say we wouldn't get out of the pool stage at WC so I'm listening.
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Totally agree, but Wright is not a first five and Carlos played his entire career including U21’s at first five. He covered fb because he had such a big boot and had the option to run it, but all while playing first five. A real strength of his was taking the ball to the line and playing up in the face of the opposition. The problem was the forwards weren’t as skillful in his day and dropped simple passes when Spencer was creating gaps in the defence for them to run onto. A man a bit before his time. And watching him live you got an appreciation for just how important he was. For me along with Cullen he was probably the most natural rugby playerI have seen and he had the skills to back it up. He would be an automatic selection for the ABs these days too. I don’t think he waa wver a great fb, just merely slipped back there in cover. People often compare him to Quade, but he was miles better than Quade in every aspect, game management, kicking, running, passing… his weakness was when he lost confidence and the occassionsl form slump which would hurt his kicking, mostly from the tee and on the odd occasion kick restarts. But yeah a legend. I wish we had him now. Wright I think is too tall for a first five and is more a running back. His height, length of stride and speed is an advantage from the back, plus he can kick and exit well. I don’t think we have seen the best of him yet.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Never bagged Carlos absolute legend I'm just saying he played full back and ten and flyhalf was his position still great at both on his day...wright is not in his class but I see similarities and trying him at flyhalf wouldn't be a terrible idea...As for WRT I like it never seen it but makes sense..
AgainAgain
Roar Rookie
Here is a clue… it means with respect to i.e. You have absolutely no idea when it comes to Spencer and you are repeating some tired rhetoric that only makes sense to those who listen and repeat such nonsense as opposed to having watched him play over the years….or just for you with respect to Carlos you have no idea what you are talking about. Google him on youtube and watch his highlights reel across a decade of playing for the Blues at their dominant best and the No. 1 side in the world (the All Blacks), for 10 years. Hope that now makes sense for you… wrt = with respect to. :happy: By way of example he scored 33 points on debut and 383 points during his 44 tests as an AB. I think Australians would love to have a guy of his ability.
Wizz
Roar Rookie
Your whole post makes no sense because you slotted in a word that's not ever been recognised in the English language...Wrt means nothing so the rest of your post which may have been interesting and poignant becomes irrelevant..
Wizz
Roar Rookie
All correct Dusty get him the ball ..10 gets ball more than fullback.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
I believe it was right to drop wright from World Cup squad as too much rocks and diamonds… He has been more diamonds this season so probably in joes wallaby squad but still some work to do to cement starting xv role with Kellaway, Jorgensen in the mix.
Dusty10
Roar Rookie
That's the thing though, Markus. He's not a 12. He's a completely different player to our better 12s of the past few years (Kerevi, Paisami, Foketi et al), all of whom are more crash-ball runners and tackle busters. Wright is not built for that, and he'd be wasted in a 12 jumper. It's why (in my humble opinion) Giteau was always a better 10 than he was a 12. He had so much more to offer than playing at 12 would allow. Wright is elusive, and he's a ballplayer. He should be in either the 10 or 15. Given he's playing so well at 15 at the moment, and given that Lolesio is playing better than he has for the past two seasons, I'd leave him there for now.
Rocky's Rules
Roar Rookie
While I have no interest in what Hoiles says I see no evidence T Wright has improved in 2024. He still makes costly errors every game and will not be Test standard until he wipes them from his game. Ditto Harry Wilson. I see no evidence that Harry has improved his footwork and evasion skills. He doesn't even attempt to step defenders and just runs into them as usual. Dave Rennie told him 2 years ago that's not good enough at Test level....
Piccolino
Roar Rookie
Nicely summarised. The team changes up so often it is hard to get stability and connections. Wright’s strength is that he will see a chance and go for it without fear. The problem is, there are many times where it doesn’t pay off, so there is always a pressure to drop him. If we want stability in the team, I think we need to select a more reliable FB and just stick with them. This basically applies to all positions. Select for effort and discipline then back them in, as we can be too focused on ‘x-factor’ that makes a good highlight reel.
Qualify
Roar Rookie
And against good opposition. He's the best player to have against minnows (Although the Wallabies are also minnows these days.) I'll reserve my judgement for when he plays against the better NZ teams.
Cec
Roar Rookie
It’s going to take some time. We just have to stop chucking kids in at the deep end of test match footy.
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
Fair enough but we still dont have a world class 10 in Aus unless Quade comes back.
Lebowski
Roar Rookie
Very true.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day Lebowski. One of the nice things about Brisbane is the almost zero coverage of rugby in the mass media. I’m very hopeful that after stints with two other international teams that he is a man of his own mind, and a pretty good mind at that. And if we add Nucifora’s support, I don’t think the media, or the usual informed and influential Roar postings, are going to have any influence on selections. :laughing: :laughing:
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
We’ll crush them.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Exit.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Let’s draw the long bow like Robin Hood did- bury me where the arrow falls. Hodge does an elementary exist: ie,kicks it out. We win the game against the supposed next World Cup favourites, Rennie keeps his job, ( Grrrrr, woof, woof, bark) doesn’t get a phone call and a million bucks, we don’t drain the coffers, we get out of the pool stage and come 3rd , 4th, 5th. We say thanks David we now have Schmidt. But no , Jock didn’t bring down Penaud, (no one else could either). Everyone sees what they want , or want to believe, either a simple exit or a hard tackle , you be the judge. That’s the difference between someone with a good eye and a numbskull. Good coaches have that eye - a bullseye, where you split the arrow.
Lebowski
Roar Rookie
I think everything comes down to whether Schmidt is actually going to be able to call his own shots. The rugby public have been duped many times by the changing of the coach ceremony. I thought this may have been different this time after rock bottom 2023 but based on the media lately, if that's anything to go by, then it'll be another undermined kiwi coach forced to select the chosen ones who are sure to come good eventually.