‘I can’t wait’: Wallaby great tips blockbuster derby as game of the round

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan has highlighted this weekend’s clash between the Reds and Brumbies as the game to watch in the sixth round of Super Rugby Pacific.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will practically be counting down the days until the Aussie derby in Brisbane with a number of Test candidates set to go head-to-head at Suncorp Stadium.

With the influence of their A-list backrow and a talented backline spurring them on, the Reds emerged as the form Australian side across the opening four rounds of the season.

The Reds sat second on the ladder while the Brumbies flew under the radar just a couple of spots back. It was a different story after a stunning upset last time out, though.

Queensland were shocked by the Force and are now 3-2 for the season. But with so much riding on their next match, there’s a reason Tim Horan picked it as a must-watch fixture in round six.

“I always usually go with a Crusaders-Chiefs game, a New Zealand game early on, but I reckon the Reds-Brumbies. That’s the big one for Joe Schmidt, the Wallaby coach, to look at,” Horan said on Stan Sports’ Rugby Heaven.

“There’s so many start players, so many good matchups.

“Of course the Queensland Reds slip out of the top four, the Brumbies slip in there. I can’t wait for that one on Saturday night. There’s stars right across the field.”

The Reds’ trio of co-captain Liam Wright, openside flanker Fraser McReight and No. 8 Harry Wilson is arguably the best backrow in the competition, but they’ll be up against it this week.

Brumbies enforcer Rob Valetini is the reigning John Eales Medallist, which is awarded to the best rugby player in Australia.

While a lot of the Reds’ attention and praise has gone to Fraser McReight after a stunning start to the season, this weekend’s derby looms as a major marker for Harry Wilson.

Wilson hasn’t played Test rugby in quite some time, and while the Queenslander has started the season with a series of strong performances, Wallaby coach Schmidt will want to see the backrower stand up against Australia’s best.

“I think it’s probably the biggest challenge in the last two or three years for Harry Wilson,” Horan explained.

“If he wants to get a second shot in the gold jersey in 2024 he’s really gonna have to roll up the sleeves again this weekend against the Brumbies when you’ve got Rob Valetini – he’s the best player in Australia.

“When you go one-on-one with those sort of players that’s when Joe Schmidt stands up and goes, ‘Okay, I can see you can go to the next level.’

“Super Rugby suits Harry Wilson (but) what Rob Valetini can do really well, he can play Super Rugby, he can get away with a few things, but then when he goes to Test match level he really tightens up and doesn’t make any mistakes. That’s the challenge for Harry Wilson.

“If (Wilson) wants to go to that next step and pull on another gold jersey, eh has to have a massive game this weekend.

“It’s going to be one of the biggest clashes to watch: Harry Wilson up against Rob Valetini this Saturday night.”