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'This is a new era': Wallabies debutant unfazed by daunting All Blacks winning record
By AAP
Coached by a Wallabies great, Harry Wilson is on his way to becoming one after being named to make his test debut in Sunday's opening Bledisloe Cup.
The 20-year-old will take on the All Blacks in Wellington, as the Australians try to wrest back the trans-Tasman trophy after 18 years in New Zealand.
Before going to school in Brisbane, Wilson was coached for five years by former Wallabies No.8 Tim Gavin in the NSW country town of Gunnedah.
Gavin missed the Wallabies' 1991 World Cup triumph through injury but was part of the Australian teams that went regularly went toe to toe with the All Blacks during his 47-test career.
"He was my coach from when I was pretty much four years old to about 10 years old," Wilson said on Friday.
"We've stayed in close contact and I guess he's kind of been a good mentor over the years, with just always giving me some advice and congratulating me so he's been very good to me."
Wilson was named at blindside flanker for the Sky Stadium clash despite spending the Super Rugby AU season as the Reds No.8.
But he said he felt confident on the side of the scrum after playing there as part of Australia's gun under 20s team, who made the World Cup final last year.
"I played the whole tournament there, and I've always switched in a little bit at Reds and rotated around and obviously since being here (with the Wallabies)," he said.
"It's quite similar to eight, just a few little changes, so I'll make sure I've got my head round that."
Among four debutants in the match-day 23, Wilson was asked about whether the All Blacks held the same fear factor for the young brigade.
"I guess not because I haven't really lost to them yet so I guess I'm going at it pretty open minded," Wilson said.
"I know for the whole squad, this is a new era for the Wallabies and we want to win.
"We want to make a statement in game one and try and get some good news for Aussie rugby and start the year right."
Wilson will also take heart from his Reds performance this year against New Zealand heavyweights, the Crusaders, where he caught the eye of their coach Scott Robertson.
"I know this is another step up against the All Blacks but I guess I'm coming in here with a lot of confidence and I just want to do my job for the team."
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Latest Comments
Agreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
Go to commentsAs Naas would say... A win is a win.
It was not perfect and at times frustrating. All 3 tests were not the best by the Boks and they still found ways to win.
Rassie would have noted the sloppyness at times and silly mistakes. The 9's made amateur handling mistakes when clearing the rucks in all 3 tests.
Once the "stupid" mistakes are eliminated, this Bok team will be very very hard to beat.
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