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RugbyPass June Player of the Month - Fraser McReight
By Alex Shaw
As part of a new series, RugbyPass will be scouring the world for the most in-form players that the northern and southern hemispheres have to offer and picking a global player of the month. Each winner will receive a donation of $100 to the charity of their choosing, with their form on the field not only helping their club or country, but also a cause close to their heart.
The RugbyPass Player of the Month list is growing, with Rory Hutchinson, Ardie Savea and Alex Goode all distinguishing themselves so far, albeit the award takes a slight detour away from top tier senior rugby for its most recent edition.
June played host to the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina, with the best and brightest prospects in the game going head-to-head to be crowned age-grade champions.
France and Australia played out a compelling final in Rosario, where France successfully defended their 2018 title, although the recipient of the award for the month of June was actually on the losing side that day.
Australia U20 captain Fraser McReight was in consistently sensational form in Argentina and put down several markers as to why he is a player to be very excited about in the future.
The flanker was a thorn in the sides of every opponent Australia had at the Championship, testing even the most well-drilled ball security of rival nations. It wasn’t just forcing turnovers where McReight excelled at the breakdown, either, as he also helped to deliver the quick ball that his side thrived upon in attack.
He carried well, too, with the power to break the gain-line close to the ruck, as well as the speed and vision to exploit space and take gaps in the wider expanses. As a one-on-one tackler, he also prospered.
Beyond his technical and physical ability on the pitch, McReight also flourished as a captain in Argentina. He was regularly in the ear of referees, respectfully pointing out issues at the breakdown and scrum, with the officials clearly swayed by his arguments, as they would frequently call those penalties shortly thereafter.
McReight now returns to the Reds, where he will be eager to impress coach Brad Thorn and attempt to force his way into the New Zealander’s rebuild of the Queensland-based franchise.
Recent Australia call-up Liam Wright stands in his way as a pure openside, although Australian rugby has shown a proficiency in the past for utilising dual fetchers in the same back row and with McReight demonstrating his all-round game so effectively in Argentina, that could be an option Thorn chooses to take next season.
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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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