Axed 12 months ago, Harry Wilson makes Wallabies admission
Harry Wilson is determined to hold his ground after sealing his whirlwind international revival with a last-gasp win on his Wallabies captaincy debut in Argentina.
The Queensland Reds favourite was tremendous at No.8 in La Plata on Sunday morning (AEST), denting the line and making a desperate tackle to thwart a try in their after-the-siren 20-19 defeat of Los Pumas.
A year earlier Wilson, who fell out of Wallabies favour after a breakout 2020 Test campaign, was best on ground for club side Brothers in their Brisbane grand final.
Not part of Eddie Jones' World Cup plans, Wilson then enjoyed a European tour with the Barbarians and dominated for the Reds under new coach Les Kiss.
A broken arm cut his Super Rugby season short but, once fit, new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt brought him straight back to face South Africa and then anointed him as the fourth captain in his six Tests in charge.
"It feels amazing, pretty special to be sitting here right now," Wilson said.
The loose forward relished the unlikely premiership a year ago, alongside brother Will who was gunning for back-to-back titles in a stacked Brothers side just hours later at Ballymore on Sunday.
In a canny coincidence centre Hamish Stewart, who made his Wallabies debut on Sunday, was also part of that Brothers side last year.
"This time last year having the coolest time of my life paying with Brothers and winning that premiership, but to be sitting here after a Wallabies win," Wilson reflected.
"It's a pinch yourself moment ... I worked hard to get back here and I want to keep building and this is where I want to stay."
Schmidt had been pleased by Wilson's lead-by-example approach, demonstrated when his late tackle attempt on opposite number Juan Martin Gonzalez spoiled what looked a certain, match-winning try.
In wet conditions his trademark expansive play had to be shelves, he and his fellow forwards able to play in tight and slowly wear down the hosts.
The teams will play each other again next weekend but the coach hinted his men might toast their Sunday triumph, Wilson no doubt keeping one eye on proceedings at Ballymore.
"I don't know what they'll be doing but I'll be having a wine, might even have a couple of beers tonight," Schmidt said.
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I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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