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'Outstanding': Dave Rennie confirms game time for Michael Hooper's young Wallabies rival

(Photos / Getty Images)

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.

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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 announced on Monday.

Leading into last week’s matches McReight had won more turnovers than any player in the Super Rugby competition.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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