Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

South African-born Reds skipper Liam Wright returns home in search of upset victory

(Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Durban-born Liam Wright has early memories of watching games at Johannesburg’s “hallowed” Ellis Park but never thought he’d be playing his first game there as Queensland captain.

ADVERTISEMENT

But years of boarding at Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar, more commonly known as rugby nursery Churchie, proved the perfect conversion therapy for the 22-year-old.

The new Reds skipper learnt what it meant to be a Queenslander there, where he was part of a 2014 team featuring NRL trio Kalyn Ponga, Brodie Croft and Jaydn Su’A that went undefeated through the GPS season.

Continue reading below…

Video Spacer

The backrower is now the fresh face of Brad Thorn’s Reds and, after coughing up a 10-point lead to lose their Super Rugby opener to the Brumbies, knows a win against the Lions would be “massive”.

“I watched a few games here when I was younger,” Wright said.

“Returning with a captain’s armband (with Queensland) is definitely not how I pictured it.

“But I’m looking forward to it; it’s just a classic, traditional ground and one you hear about growing up here in South Africa.

“It’s hallowed turf and they’ll (the Lions) definitely be strong at home.”

The Reds bullied the Brumbies’ representative pack at times last Friday, their set piece impressive before the hosts rallied in the second half.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Lions, licking their wounds after a heavy loss in Argentina to the Jaguares last weekend, boast a similarly physical pack.

But last year’s finalists showed there were ample ways through them in a 38-8 win.

Wallabies lock Izack Rodda will return to the starting side this weekend while the hefty boot of Hamish Stewart at No.12 could exploit the thinner air of Ellis Park, which sits about 1800m above sea level.

His promotion from the bench has shifted James O’Connor to No.10 and Isaac Lucas to the pine, coach Thorn hopeful Lucas can make a late impact against tired legs.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Reds move to Argentina next before their first home game, Thorn making clear that returning with one win from their around-the-world road trip would be a success.

The hosts start warm favourites but Wright said last season’s breakthrough against the Sharks in Durban – their first there in 15 years – enhanced their reputation as good travellers.

Wright pilfered the ball after the siren to seal that win and said it remained a poignant moment for the young group.

“It was an awesome game and … brought us closer and we’re a tight group, looking to replicate that this week with the Lions,” he said.

– AAP

In other news:

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

F
Flankly 2 hours ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

4 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
Search