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

08 Feb 2023

(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.

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.

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.

“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.

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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Comments on RugbyPass

CO 6 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Will Jordan is as good as any fullback in the world and at six foot two is backed up by younger, larger talent at fullback like Sullivan and Spencer. Ruben Love is a slightly larger but less eccentric version of McKenzie at this stage in his development.

McKenzie, he's like a wildly energetic dog that doesn't stop being a pup until the age of six.

McKenzie is no longer the young pup, he's entering his best years as a ten, he's been a test player for nine years and that's really starting to produce under Razor.

NZ sometimes pigeon holes players early and can be blind to the McKenzie late bloomers, McKenzie is a loyal, passionate Allblack and it's only because of a double world player of the year that he's not starting at ten each time for the Allblacks.

For those that get to meet McKenzie he's a relaxed, friendly, courteous and composed person and he is looking likely to peak as a ten at RWC.

However, McKenzie isn't really the guy we need to replace and Love is the nearest thing NZ has as a younger model. Instead NZ needs to be looking for a guy with the size and height of Beauden, Pollard, Farrell, Larkham, Sexton.

Carter was a freak at ten and McKenzies also really special but the games now dominated by first fives that are noticeably over six foot. A smaller guy needs to be freakishly talented.

Love is a handy player that plays well at both fullback and ten, he's got a really good mindset and a superb footballer like McKenzie but I'm a crowded fullback field that still has Jordie Barret around to fill in, Love needs to spend a lot more time at ten, a position that NZ is struggling with for world class depth.

As for Naitoa, he needs a run at six, he's a lock that's really better suited to six.

The French are a handful and the Allblacks can really build a strong year by winning the third test, once the games under control then Love should be swapped with McKenzie to have his chance at ten.

8 Go to comments

Ace 7 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

You test the waters against Italy, not against the ABs.

28 Go to comments

Icefarrow 11 minutes ago

'Can we all stop moaning about the Lions, please?'

Author seems to have forgotten just how much more expensive everything is nowadays. Even something being a “once in a lifetime” event still has its limits. Not to mention the fact that when tickets don’t sell well to events, Rugby organisers lower prices significantly, yet still go on to talk about making a healthy profit. Clearly the initial prices are taking the piss.

2 Go to comments

JW 13 minutes ago

Rieko Ioane out with injury as All Blacks forced to make changes

Hope Jordie gets a go at 15 and Love and Jim can move into 10 and 12 together.

9 Go to comments

Icefarrow 17 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Most Fullbacks get a run at the Wing before moving to 15. I fail to see why giving him a crack at 15, where he has the extra space and time to get a grasp of the international game in front of him, before moving him to 10 is a bad thing. You want to ease young talent into the jersey, not drop them straight in the cauldron. People seem to forget Beauden played more Fullback then First-Five early in his career.

8 Go to comments

JW 20 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Aside from the ABs only being a place for players with form, I’m not sold on Razors desire to reward effort in training with a cap. That’s BS.

And especially ALB doesn’t need a ‘thank’ you cap.

8 Go to comments

JW 28 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Instead, Damian McKenzie, who’s been there and done that plenty of times

Dmacs only had one season at test first five, not much more than a dozen games. That’s anything but “been there done that” territory.

I agree though, if he’s not been kept back to run through the RC as 10 he shouldn’t be in any 23. Love should have this chance to keep the jersey as Barretts shown he’s still not capable despite his return to form.

Midfield was either Jim and Proctor or Tupaea and ALB really. No brainer. Happy for the team to transition to ALB as their center and slowly develop a style that suits Proctor by the end of the year.

8 Go to comments

fl 33 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

not sure how WR are falling for anything by issuing a statement on what the law are

28 Go to comments

BeegMike 34 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

It was a message, it was sent and recieved. Not about penalties, but a message of intent. You can hear Rassie explain it post game. The Italians got away with a lot in the first game, and the message was simple, not today. New laws re the midfield maul will be in place before the Autumn Test, because that's what WR does….kill any sort of creativity. Teams should be looking for answers to Springbok dominance not complain about it. Plug one hole, another opens. That's the reality of rugby laws.

28 Go to comments

DJ 34 minutes ago

Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

When Will Jordan was on the bench, depending on how the game is going, I thought either WJ will replace Love or DMac will go off & Love moves up to 10.

Now that Reiko is out & WJ is starting on the wing & Jordie Barrett being on the bench, again depending on the how the game is going, JB could play 12 or 15, DMac & Love could simply swap. Options, options, options…

I suppose with ALB, I see it more as a case of seeing if ALBs body can get through a test. Otherwise when does ALB get a start? Away in Argentina, home to the Springboks, either Bledisloe game or the Grand Slam Tour?

8 Go to comments

dw 37 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

He was only picked at 15 from memory this year? The try he scored against the Brumbies in Canberra made him look like a centre

87 Go to comments

BeegMike 41 minutes ago

World Rugby clarify Springboks' controversial kick-off gambit

Thats silly, why try and handicap a team that dominates a certain area? Innovation breeds innovation, other teams should be looking for answers to the Springboks dominance. Complaining about 6/2 splits, scrum dominance, forced scrum restarts or whatever else makes opposition teams look weak. Leaders in the game are game changers. Weaklings are complainers. No matter which way you spin it

28 Go to comments

JW 46 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

I can’t remember if he was a really early on signing, or if he came at a point where they were possibly getting stalled on other big names they wanted? Not even big names, just former rugby players, and that’s why they put in so much? Can’t imagine McLennan had much more in the bank to get the names Jones wanted (though it’s mostly a backended contract right). But yes, worth a game on the talent alone, I think the marketing will be a bonus failsafe.

Could have been such a better outcome from willing to splash the cash and hire back what you could have billed as the worlds best coach. Just needed to make him Director (wouldn’t leave him long in that role as he’d destory things though) rather than booting Deans. Imagine getting a few leaguies in a year after a solid WC were they could have again been lucky to squek through to the late stages.

87 Go to comments

CO 50 minutes ago

Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

Some Bok supporters might argue in vain but Vaa’i is the model that superseded the previous model known as the Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Hansen's pack got beaten to a pulp in 2019 by the English pack and it would've made zero difference who started at six.

Believing that Scooter starting at six was because they lost that semifinal ignores the reality that Hansen had overstayed his welcome as head coach and having effectively lost the Lions tour and become besotted with SBW should've been fired in 2017 and replaced with any one of Rennie, Schmidt or Joseph.

Both Nonu and Kaino should've been in that 2019 squad. Proven world cup final starters.

Frizzell is never getting the six jersey, he had a shocker of a world cup final and is yesterday's man dining out on one good performance against the Bok B team at Mt Smart. Frizzell is a myth.

The Allblacks current pack needs to bulk up due to it having a lot of small back rowers and no, Finau is not good enough to start, he's not direct enough or punishing enough.

The Allblacks need to stop anointing Sititi as the greatest thing since sliced bread, he's done very little this year, Christian is looking very solid at eight and seven is Saveas best spot to keep Christian starting.

Rassie is using loosies at hooker and so should the Allblacks. Playing Vaa’i at six isn't three locks, it's ensuring size to counter the other tier one packs and Vaa'i is fantastic at six.

Kirifi is okay but again hasn't done much and is too little, Lakai and Kirifi shouldn't be in the squad together.

123 Go to comments

dw 52 minutes ago

How the Lions will heap pressure upon Australia's million-dollar man

Not having played much in the backs, would it be easier to shift him to 12? Physically he’s well equipped and I assume less decision making? Great read either way. Shame he didn’t get a whole super rugby season to practise his position

87 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

'Future is very, very bright': Junior Boks boss on superstar compared to Dupont

I look forward to you denying making this claim!

6 Go to comments

Ken Behren 1 hour ago

Johnny Sexton responds to Pete Samu accusation levelled at Lions