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Mike Harris has Wallaby written all over him. The New Zealand born-and-bred 22 year-old can play anywhere in the backline, and last night gave a scintillating 19 minute display off the bench for the Queensland Reds in their record-breaking 53-3 demolition job on the Melbourne Rebels, at Suncorp.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has always been an astute judge of talent, and he saw plenty in Harris in the New Zealand under 20s, and playing for North Harbour in the New Zealand National Provincial competition.
He would be the ideal replacement if Wallaby fly-half Quade Cooper was ever unavailable.
McKenzie signed Harris for two years, and while one game is certainly not a career, it was a cracking start.
In five touches of the ball, Harris scored twice, almost three times, set up one, went close to setting up another – and converted the final try from the left-side touchline. 12 points in 19 minutes.
It’s well worth recalling the two Harris five-pointers, and the one he set up for another benchman – winger Luke Morahan.
* In the 62nd minute Harris received a pass from Cooper. Harris veered right to fend off Danny Cipriani, transferred the ball to his left arm, and veered left to fend off Alistair Campbell, transferred the ball to his right arm, and veered right to fend off Cooper Vuna, to leave a clear 5-metres to touch down.
A magnificent individual try combining speed, swerve, and vision.
* Two minutes later, Harris toed a loose ball ahead midfield for 30 metres, won the race a metre short of the line, calmly stooped to swoop on the rolling ball, and dived over for the try.
* In the 78th minute, Harris saw Morahan was unmarked 40 metres away to his left, and deftly cross-kicked on the full right into the winger’s chest for him to beat two and score.
The Harris conversion was the icing on the cake.
The big bonus? He slots in perfectly with the Reds’ razzle dazzle rugby which surfaced last night for the first time this season with seven tries.
“We’ve been struggling to score points. And to score that many tries, and that many points, was very satisfying,” said Reds’ skipper Will Genia.
“Harris was outstanding”.
His bench days are done-and-dusted. McKenzie can’t afford to leave such superb natural talent as a sideline spectator. This is an 80-minute player of note.
A Wallaby?
Yes please, and eligible. Harris’ grandmother is an Aussie, one of the quaint quirks of international rugby law.
But Mike Harris isn’t the only exciting Reds new-boy on the Super Rugby block. 18-year-old flanker Liam Gill has Wallaby written all over him, as well.
The baby of the Reds’ squad, Gill captained the Australian Schoolboys on their UK tour in 2009, and was a regular standout in the Australian Sevens throughout last year, under the guidance of dual international Michael O’Connor. This was highlighted by winning the silver medal at the Delhi Commonwealth Games.
Gill isn’t as physically big as champion man-mountain Wallaby flanker, David Pocock. But he’s a proven scavenger at the breakdown, and defensively he’s right up there.
With the addition of Mike Harris, and Liam Gill, there are exciting times ahead for the men-in-Red.