‘We needed him’: Ex-Wallaby compares Fraser McReight to George Smith

Former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles has compared an Australian who is “as good as any seven in the world” to one of the greatest backrowers to have ever worn the gold jersey. With Australia going down 27-13 to Scotland on Monday morning (AEDT), the absence of one Wallaby stands out.

Fraser McReight was one of three nominees for Rugby Australia’s prestigious John Eales Medal last month, which goes to the Wallabies’ best player. The 25-year-old was crowned Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific MVP earlier that evening, with that form carrying into the Test arena.

McReight started the first three Tests in the Wallabies’ new era under coach Joe Schmidt at openside flanker before suffering an injury. Following a stint on the sidelines, the Queenslander returned for both Bledisloe Cup Tests and the first two matches on the team’s Spring Tour.

Rugby World Cup winner Jeremy Paul had already labelled McReight as “the best seven in the world” on a recording of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby about 50 days ago, and that take might not be as bold as first thought with another former Wallaby singing the flanker’s praises.

George Smith, Phil Waugh, David Pocock, four-time John Eales Medallist Michael Hooper and 2024 Wallabies debutant Carlo Tizzano are all talented opensides, but with McReight missing the recent loss to Scotland, Hoiles insisted “we needed him” in the bid to keep Australia’s hopes of a grand slam alive.

“Tizzano’s been a really good performer this year but McReight is clearly one of the most attacking, intelligent, best support play number seven we’ve got in world rugby and we’re just lucky he’s a Wallaby at the moment,” Hoiles said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts.

“He’s the best attacking seven since George Smith, that’s how good he is. I’m not saying he’s better than George… we’ve been blessed with number sevens.

“Hoops is a Hall of Famer and Hoops is a way more balanced player and Fraser’s got a lot more to achieve before he gets to that level but he’s attacking ability – he keeps the play alive, he sets up, he’s got offload, he’s got support play.

“We’ve had (Pocock), we’ve had (Waugh), we’ve had so many good number sevens but none of them have been able to attack like George Smith except Fraser.”

Watch on TikTok

Commentator Sean Maloney speculated that McReight had missed training earlier in the week which deemed the backrower unavailable for the clash at Scotland’s Edinburgh fortress, Murrayfield. It remains to be seen if McReight will play in Australia’s last Test of the year.

While Sione Tuipulotu’s Scottish side dashed the Wallabies’ hopes of a grand slam, the men in gold still have an opportunity to make a statement before the British and Irish Lions tour the Land Down Under during a blockbuster series in 2025.

Coach Schmidt returns to Ireland as the Wallabies’ mastermind rugby guru. This clash pits a valiant Wallabies outfit against Ireland, who were knocked off top spot on World Rugby’s men’s rankings by the All Blacks earlier this month.

But history isn’t on Australia’s side. The Wallabies haven’t beaten the Irish since an 18-9 win at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in 2018, and their losing run at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium is far worse with the visitors last triumphing there on November 16, 2013.

“The top end of the rankings, they don’t lie. This is the biggest examination since South Africa came to Australia. This would be the best win of the year by far,” panellist Morgan Turinui declared.

“This is an examination of all of our play. Their breakdown, defensive breakdown pressure, is another level. Scotland gave us real issues.

“They’re pretty precise. Their ability to implement a game plan, while it’s dipped post (Johnny) Sexton because they just had that knowledge and that shared knowledge together with what they’re doing 10 to nine.

“This is a team that will pick apart the Wallabies, especially in the last 20 of a game when there’s fatigue and the Wallabies start to fall off tackles, that’s going to be a tough period. But it is the proper examination of the way you play.”