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The former schoolboys star making a comeback with the out-of-exile Force

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

After a stalled career at Melbourne, Western Force fullback Jack McGregor is intent on showing the Rebels what they’re missing out on when the Super Rugby AU teams clash on Friday night at Leichhardt Oval.

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McGregor was heralded as a rising star when he signed with the Rebels in 2016 after playing Australian schoolboys and captaining NSW.

But after a serious knee injury, the young playmaker failed to break into the top side and was let go in 2018, and snapped up by the Force for their NRC team.

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Jack McGregor & Henry Taefu Interview | Super Rugby AU | Force v Rebels

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Jack McGregor & Henry Taefu Interview | Super Rugby AU | Force v Rebels

Now aged 23 and finding his feet at No.15 after a shift from five-eighth, McGregor feels like he’s playing his best football.

He has started every game for the Force and has been among their best.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CDDE_J0g84u/

“Yes definitely, since coming to Perth, I’ve been given some opportunities which I’m very grateful for,” McGregor said.

“The team dynamic is really good at the moment and everyone’s really enjoying the opportunity and the chance to play against the best teams in Australia.”

The last time the two teams met in 2017, McGregor was on the Rebels’ bench with the Force, who had a nine-point win, cut soon after from the Super Rugby competition.

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While he will line up against his former team, many Melbourne players including captain Dane Haylett-Petty, flanker Richard Hardwick, lock Matt Philip and centre Bill Meakes were part of that Force team.

“There’s a lot to play for and it will be good coming up against old mates,” McGregor said.

“It’s in the back of our minds but this is a really important game for us so we’re just focused on us and what we can do to get the win.”

The Force are yet to secure a Super Rugby AU victory despite holding leads against the NSW Waratahs and Queensland.

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Melbourne notched their first win last round against the Waratahs.

“We’ve had a few good weeks of preparation and the boys have trained really hard this week and we know exactly what we want to do and how we want to play when we get out there,” McGregor said.

“It’s the last game of the first round before we go into the bye week so we want to put everything into it.”

– Melissa Woods

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AM 40 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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