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Pocock heir apparent Fraser McReight shines in Argentina

Fraser McReight celebrates with the trophy after winning the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship match between Australia and New Zealand U20 at Bond University. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

If there’s one thing that Australia haven’t lacked for in recent years it is openside flankers, and the latest name to make an impression is Fraser McReight.

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From David Pocock and Michael Hooper battling it out for the Wallaby jersey to Matt Hodgson’s stellar showings on the west coast and George Smith’s timeless wanderings around the rugby world, it’s one position that Australia have been truly blessed at in recent years.

Jack Dempsey has shown his ability, too, whilst Liam Wright has impressed in Super Rugby since graduating from the U20s in 2017. Now it is McReight, Wright’s teammate at the Reds, putting down his own marker.

The flanker has already led his side to success in the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship, beating New Zealand and lifting the trophy for the first time in its five-year history, and he helped get his side off to a blistering start at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina, spearheading a 36-12 win over Italy.

His captain-to-captain and openside-to-openside match-up with Italy’s Davide Ruggeri was a highly anticipated one, but there was only one winner in Santa Fe on Tuesday, as McReight was totally dominant at the contact area. Italy’s ball security at the breakdown was constantly under threat from McReight and Harry Wilson, another promising flanker coming through at the Reds.

McReight was also on hand as a prominent ball-carrier, helping set up Will Harris’ opening try with a nice line back in against the grain close to the ruck and a pinpoint offload to the supporting number eight. He carried with power and pace throughout the game and there was little Italy could do to stop him in defence.

It was a consummate performance from the Junior Wallabies and one which would likely have finished 36-0 or even better, had it not been for a late yellow card and the Australians taking their foot off the gas for two consolation Italian scores.

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As a breakdown influencer and a carrier, not to mention his savvy and respectful words in the referee’s ear which seemed to pre-empt Italian penalties being spotted and called, it was as good a performance as you could expect to see at this level and it bodes well for not only Australian rugby at the senior international level, but also the programme that Brad Thorn is trying to build in Queensland.

Before McReight can eye up succeeding the likes of Pocock, he’ll have to battle the promising Wright for a spot at club level, but the marker he put down on Tuesday was an impactful one. His next task will be taking on Ireland on Saturday, before Australia go head-to-head with three-times winners of this competition, England, next week.

Watch: Highlanders unveil new coaching structure

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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