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Pocock heir apparent Fraser McReight shines in Argentina
By Alex Shaw
If there’s one thing that Australia haven’t lacked for in recent years it is openside flankers, and the latest name to make an impression is Fraser McReight.
From David Pocock and Michael Hooper battling it out for the Wallaby jersey to Matt Hodgson's stellar showings on the west coast and George Smith’s timeless wanderings around the rugby world, it’s one position that Australia have been truly blessed at in recent years.
Jack Dempsey has shown his ability, too, whilst Liam Wright has impressed in Super Rugby since graduating from the U20s in 2017. Now it is McReight, Wright’s teammate at the Reds, putting down his own marker.
The flanker has already led his side to success in the Oceania Rugby U20 Championship, beating New Zealand and lifting the trophy for the first time in its five-year history, and he helped get his side off to a blistering start at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina, spearheading a 36-12 win over Italy.
His captain-to-captain and openside-to-openside match-up with Italy’s Davide Ruggeri was a highly anticipated one, but there was only one winner in Santa Fe on Tuesday, as McReight was totally dominant at the contact area. Italy’s ball security at the breakdown was constantly under threat from McReight and Harry Wilson, another promising flanker coming through at the Reds.
McReight was also on hand as a prominent ball-carrier, helping set up Will Harris’ opening try with a nice line back in against the grain close to the ruck and a pinpoint offload to the supporting number eight. He carried with power and pace throughout the game and there was little Italy could do to stop him in defence.
It was a consummate performance from the Junior Wallabies and one which would likely have finished 36-0 or even better, had it not been for a late yellow card and the Australians taking their foot off the gas for two consolation Italian scores.
As a breakdown influencer and a carrier, not to mention his savvy and respectful words in the referee’s ear which seemed to pre-empt Italian penalties being spotted and called, it was as good a performance as you could expect to see at this level and it bodes well for not only Australian rugby at the senior international level, but also the programme that Brad Thorn is trying to build in Queensland.
Before McReight can eye up succeeding the likes of Pocock, he’ll have to battle the promising Wright for a spot at club level, but the marker he put down on Tuesday was an impactful one. His next task will be taking on Ireland on Saturday, before Australia go head-to-head with three-times winners of this competition, England, next week.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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