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‘The best lock in the world’: Wallabies hopeful Miles Amatosero chases greatness

Clermont's Australian lock Miles Amatosero (R) is tackled by Montpellier's French back-row Alexandre Becognee (L) during the French Top14 rugby union match between Montpellier Herault Rugby and ASM Clermont Auvergne at The GGL Stadium in Montpellier, southern France, on November 11, 2023. (Photo by Sylvain THOMAS / AFP) (Photo by SYLVAIN THOMAS/AFP via Getty Images)

Wallabies hopeful Miles Amatosero is back in Australia after signing with the NSW Waratahs for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season. But the opportunity to return home is more than just a step towards a potential Wallabies debut, it’s a milestone moment in the journey to greatness.

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Amatosero, 21, has signed on with the Sydney-based club after three years abroad in France. The hulking second-rower had the chance to sign with the Waratahs Academy as a teenager but instead chose to sign with ASM Clermont Auvergne.

The young Australian trekked the road less trodden. After joining the Clermont Academy, Amatosero debuted in the famed yellow jersey against Ma’a Nonu’s Toulon. Amatosero went on to play more than 30 matches for the Top 14 juggernauts, including four appearances in the esteemed European Champions Cup.

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With that invaluable experience spurring him on, Amatosero has returned home to Australia as a new man. The New South Welshman learned to “love” to set piece over in France and is now ready to make his mark against the best players in the southern hemisphere.

We all must walk before we can run in the pursuit of any dream. Amatosero has put in the work overseas and after settling into life as a Waratah, the lock isn’t shying away from the ambitious goals that he’s chasing.

“I’m trying to not make it so much of a dream, I’m trying to make it a reality,” Amatosero told RugbyPass.

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“I’m staying confident in what I’m doing… just getting better every day. If that means Wallabies that means Wallabies, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.

“Of course, that’s the dream, that’s the end goal that I want to play for the Wallabies.

“A huge (goal) for me is being the best player that I can be and hopefully that means the best lock in the world.”

Amatosero set the bar high from day dot at the Tahs. In a statement released by the Waratahs about 115 days ago, the Australian said: “Man, I wish one day I could be a Wallaby.”

As the tallest player at the Waratahs – and by a noticeable margin, too – there’s plenty expected of the club’s ‘big’ recruit heading into the 2024 season under coach Darren Coleman.

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Wallabies Jed Holloway and Ned Hanigan will challenge for spots in the starting side, but Amatosero is more than capable of forcing a reshuffle at some stage.

But before a ball is kicked or a whistle blown in the Super Rugby season, Amatosero is first and foremost just happy to be back home.

“It’s been awesome. Seriously, like I think leading into I had a lot of expectations with being back home (after) being away for so long,” Amatosero said.

“It’s been so much better and more just being home just feels right, if feels normal – it feels normal but in a good way, it’s almost hard to explain.

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“Comfortable but I don’t want to stay comfortable. I’m trying to achieve more and do more and more every day but it’s definitely a lot easier to play good footy.”

The NSW Waratahs will get their Super Rugby Pacific season underway with an unmissable blockbuster against arch-rivals the Queensland Reds at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium. That match is scheduled for 7:05 pm (local time on Saturday, February 24.

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H
Hellhound 39 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

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