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Why Eddie Jones' arrival has given Reds star 'a lot more hope'

(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

A pre-season trial game in rural NSW shapes as a critical moment in Harry Wilson’s rugby career.

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The Queensland Reds No.8 fell out of favour with former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie but admits Eddie Jones’s shock arrival in a World Cup year has offered him a “lot more hope”.

And Jones will be in the stands in Narrabri on Saturday when the NSW Waratahs host the Reds in their final Super Rugby Pacific trial game.

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Like high-profile Reds prop Taniela Tupou, Wilson is off contract beyond 2023 and has seen former teammates Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Angus Scott-Young depart recently for Europe.

Wilson scored twice in the trial victory over the Western Force in Perth last weekend and says he’d love to remain at Ballymore.

But with the British and Irish Lions touring in 2025 and a home World Cup in 2027, the 23-year-old wants to know where he sits in the Wallabies’ flanker depth charts before making his decision.

“I want to play well at the start of the Super season and go from there,” he said.

“It (Jones’s arrival) gives everyone in Australian rugby – and someone like me who’s been in and out for a few years – a lot more hope.

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“With new eyes watching it’s only good for my opportunities and any performance in front of him (Jones) is only going to help you.

“Definitely (playing for the Wallabies this year will be a factor in his contract decision).

“But I’m very aware I won’t get picked if I don’t play well here.”

The Reds named a near-full strength squad for the clash with former Melbourne NRL winger Suliasi Vunivalu, another fringe Wallaby, keen to impress Jones after two injury-hit seasons since his code switch.

Five-eighth James O’Connor was named to play but is likely to be rested as he completes the final stages of his recovery from off-season ankle surgery.

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Former Wallabies lock and off-season signing Luke Jones (neck) is another injury concern ahead of their February 25 season opener in Townsville, as is fellow lock Angus Blyth (ankle).

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J
JW 35 minutes 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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