Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

The two Wallaby openside flankers dominating Super Rugby Pacific

Fraser McReight of the Reds satduring the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Queensland Reds and Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium, on February 21, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Two genuine contenders to wear the Wallabies’ number seven jersey have continued to stand out in Super Rugby Pacific, with the Queensland Reds’ Fraser McReight and Western Force’s Carlo Tizzano among the best performers in round two.

ADVERTISEMENT

After Michael Hooper’s shock omission from Australia’s squad for the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2023, McReight has emerged as a key within the national set-up. McReight has also won Australia’s Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons.

In the Queensland Reds’ season opener against Moana Pasifika on Friday evening, McReight hit the ground running with a game-changing impact during the hosts’ 20-point win at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, with the backrower scoring a try during the second term.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

McReight also had a try assist, was involved in multiple other plays that led to points, ran for more than 70 metres, carried the ball a team-high 10 times, and made the second-most tackles out of any player with 20 behind only Harry Wilson.

While McReight was yellow carded just before half-time, that didn’t stop former Wallaby Nick Phipps from recognising the openside flanker as the top performer from round two. Phipps also highlighted the efforts of Force’s Dylan Pietsch and Brumbies’ Charlie Cale.

“I think he’s just getting better and better every week,” Phipps said on Stan Sports’ Between Two Posts. “You don’t even discuss him being in [Michael] Hoops’ or [David Pocock’s] shadow anymore, like he’s in his own right one of the best sevens in the world at the moment.

“I love watching him play. He plays a very football style of rugby, it’s like he’s playing touch out there, he knows where he’s going, he knows where to turn up, he’s a link man, he’s not just all argy-bargy.

ADVERTISEMENT

“He’s going to be integral to the Reds’ season this year.”

McReight is widely considered the front-runner to wear the Wallabies’ No. 7 jersey under coach Joe Schmidt, but the elite-level performances of Tizzano haven’t gone unnoticed, with Australian rugby blessed with depth at openside flanker.

Tizzano set a new standard in Super Rugby Pacific by setting the competition’s all-time record for most tackles in a match with 34. The Western Force’s star backrower also didn’t miss any, finishing with 100 per cent tackle accuracy on a famous night for the team.

With the Force beating the Brumbies in Caberra for the first time in 5,060 days, Tizzano’s efforts went a long way to making that result happen. The five-Test Wallaby also scored a try, which was his third of the season after scoring a double in the opening round win over Moana Pasifika.

“Three points for me, Carlo Tizzano,” Turinui explained. “Officially 34 tackles on Super Rugby stats, I think we might’ve had him a couple more. Scored a couple of tries but carried big as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

“What I love is a little bit like we’ve discussed with Fraser McReight over the years, being a little bit better around decision-making at breakdown, not putting his head in dead rucks which means he’s in the line a lot more picking his time.

“I thought it was an outstanding individual performance in the best performance of the weekend by an Australian team.”

McReight and Tizzano will likely go head-to-head in round three when the Western Force host the Queensland Reds out west. Tizzano was a class above during the win over the Reds in Perth last season, and it’ll be interesting to see if history does indeed repeat.

Download the RugbyPass app now!

News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa v British & Irish Lions | 2009 | Second Test | The Vaults

Matches 27 - 28 | Rugby Premier League | Full Day Replay

Hyderabad Heroes vs Delhi Redz | Match 28 | Rugby Premier League | Full Match Replay

England XV v France XV | Full Match Replay

"The Opportunity Of A Lifetime" | Wallabies All In: Episode 1

Are these the best ever Lions performances?

Pollock Loses Bill, Players Meet Their Roommates & Training in Portugal | Ep 1: The Ultimate Test

Top 10 inspiring Lions speeches

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

1 Comment
P
PM 122 days ago

Mcreight is indeed as anyone going around at 7 worldwide. Tizanno is really good too.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
Red and White Dynamight 1 hour ago
Scott Robertson opens up on drama surrounding Bongi Mbonambi's knock-on try

Well you wont read about it in Rapport.


Erasmus was banned twice. Both times for attacking referees. Despite serving a 12mth ban for attacking Nic Berry, within a short time he was also attacking Wayne Barnes. Both times using social media thereby directing fans vitriol directly at Barnes and his family (death threats etc); the WR (2nd ban) was suspended from attending SA’S matches “all matchday activities” vs Italy and England (2022) but also, specifically, from “engagement with media and social media in relation to match officials”.


Both incidents as Head coach of an international team (thereby under WR)


Dave Rennie was NOT banned by WR

Michael Cheika was NOT banned by WR

Eddie Jones was NOT banned by WR.


Erasmus has been banned TWICE at Test level. He knows what he’s doing. To do so once is bad enough, to be banned a 2nd time soon thereafter and with specific terms is arrogant and nothing less than cheating.


Graham Henry filed a report to IRB (now WR) 1 year after the RWC 2007 regarding the AB loss to France. This process followed the rules set down by the sport’s governing body. It was dealt with via the agreed and proper channels and was not released for public consumption. To argue that Erasmus didnt know what he was doing, 10+ years later, is treating fans and opposition teams, players and officials as idiots. He was directly attacking referees with the intention of pressuring them to benefit the Springboks.


Everyone understands that SARU, its coaches, players and fans dont care how they win as long as they do. Nothing has changed since they had their own referees controlling Springbok Tests at home. It is why fans even feel compelled to also attack the referee, physically (the fat pig who attacked D.McHugh). All other teams are working within the system, showing respect to match officials and, thereby, opposition teams. Only 1 Head Coach has been banned once at Test level. And twice. Why do you think Erasmus didnt get WR Coach of the Year ? you wont find the answer in Rapport.

62 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING How the Aussies have reacted to first exposure to Henry Pollock How the Aussies have taken first exposure to Henry Pollock
Search