Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson comes full circle
The No.8 was a 20-year-old Wallabies regular after his explosive 2020 rookie season.
But he fell just as quickly down the pecking order and, after two years in the Test wilderness, was not in the frame when the 2023 World Cup squad was named.
Instead he returned to clubland and won a Brisbane premiership with older brother Will for Brothers, claiming player-of-the-final honours for good measure.
Exactly a year later, after knocking back overseas interest to remain in Australian rugby, he was captaining the Wallabies to victory in Argentina as the side's eighth leader in their last 15 Tests.
On Saturday at Suncorp Stadium the unlikely skipper will join James Horwill, John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones as a Wallabies captain for a British & Irish Lions tour.
"I've just always wanted to be a Wallaby," the 25-year-old said of what drove him when he was being overlooked.
"To me, it's the biggest honour you can get.
"You have your ups and downs - no-one has a career where you don't have downs - and I've definitely had a fair few.
"But I've just always wanted to put myself in these situations. It definitely has made the lows all worth it, to get back."
A desperate Wilson contorted his way over the line for the match-winning try against Fiji in the Wallabies last start and will be called on for a mountain of work at Suncorp Stadium with backrow partner Rob Valetini out injured.
New Zealand-born Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said that passion was central to his captaincy call.
"He just loves representing Australia, loves any Australian team," the coach said.
"He doesn't say a lot, Harry. But what he does do well is demonstrate.
"I'm not saying he can't speak, he's just out of breath a lot of the time."
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Courier-Mail
40 minutes ago
- Courier-Mail
Rugby union: ‘Cynical' Tom Lynagh act rocks ‘bang average' Wallabies against the British and Irish Lions
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rugby. Followed categories will be added to My News. Wallabies youngster Tom Lynagh was crunched mid-air in a tackle labelled 'cynical' by many during the British and Irish Lions' 27-19 victory at Suncorp Stadium. In the first match between these teams in 12 years, the Lions burst out of the blocks and controlled the majority of the 80 minutes in an ominous start to the three-Test series. Tszyu vs Fundora 2 & Pacquiao vs Barrios | SUN 20 JULY 10AM AEST | In the biggest fight of the year, Tim Tszyu faces Sebastian Fundora in a blockbuster rematch, plus Manny Pacquiao makes his highly anticipated return to the ring to face Mario Barrios. | Order now with Main Event on Kayo Sports The Aussies kept competing and narrowed the gap with tries in the 67th and 78th minutes, but it was too little too late and the outcome was never in doubt. A moment late in the first half proved a huge talking point when 22-year-old flyhalf Lynagh, the son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh, was taken out by Tom Curry after leaping for a high ball right on Australia's 22. Watch the Lynagh tackle in the video player above Tom Curry gives away a penalty for this mid-air tackle on Tom Lynagh. (Photo by) Considering how rarely the Lions are in this part of the world, it was a banner evening in front of a packed house in Brisbane for a sport that has struggled in Australia for years. The tourists then duly burst out of the blocks, slotting a penalty goal inside two minutes when NRL convert Joseph Suaalii was pinged for not releasing. Eight minutes later it looked like a mauling might be on the cards when Finn Russell's superb pass found Sione Tuipulotu, who crossed to give the Lions a sensational start. They had another try disallowed in the 19th minute before the Aussies struck back out of nowhere in the 28th minute. Jake Gordon's box kick led to an aerial contest in Lions territory and Max Jorgensen won the battle for the ball before powering over the line for an Australian try. Sione Tuipulotu celebrates an early try for the Lions. (Photo by) 'Jorgensen on the hunt, that's a good competition. Jorgensen! Jorgensen freakish and the try for Australia,' Sean Maloney said on Stan Sport. Wallabies great Tim Horan added: 'Unbelievable from Max Jorgensen. That's got the Wallabies fans up at Suncorp Stadium. 'They've tried that box kick a few times now and it's been a bit too deep. 'On this occasion, Gordon gets enough height on it and Max Jorgensen's only got eyes for the ball. 'He goes up, rips it away, what a try for the Wallabies.' Fellow commentator Morgan Turinui noted it was Australia's first meaningful attack of the game. Max Jorgensen hit back for the Wallabies. (Photo by) 'That's why he's there Max Jorgensen, he is an elite athlete,' he said. 'He gets up and rips it away, the Wallabies, it's their first time in possession in the Lions' 22 and they take a try out of it.' Ten minutes later, the moment arrived that had people on both sides of the globe talking. A box kick from the Lions was secured in the air by Lynagh, who was playing his fourth Test and his first run-on start, only for Curry to crunch him before his feet had landed back on the turf. 'Lynagh, great take – oh caught high. Caught in the air,' Maloney said. 'That's so brave from Tom Lynagh,' Horan continued. 'Had to put his body on the line, he gets collected in the air from Tom Curry. 'Looks like it's penalty only.' A fired up Turinui jumped in with: 'Yeah only because he's lucky enough not to land on his head. 'That's cynical. It's a chance to have a crack at a young No. 10 and the Lions have taken it. 'If you want to know, Wallabies forward pack, what the Lions want to do to your No. 10, there it is.' It immediately had the sports world talking. Sports broadcaster Motshidisi E. Mohono tweeted: 'That's so silly from Curry.' Rugby Bits was clearly relishing the moment, replying: 'Can't waste opportunities like that to smash a 10. 'They 100% have a plan to target Lynagh anyway so playing 39 minutes of a Test match and then that opportunity is there, only one outcome haha.' Hilarious. A small group of Aussie fans find themselves surrounded by Lions fans. (Photo by) X account @OzDeniser offered: 'Refereeing has been atrocious. Lynagh taken out in the air: naughty boy. Knock on by Lions at crucial point: nothing to see here.' Chalyn Rugby tweeted: 'That tackle by Tom Curry on Tom Lynagh is late, cynical and should be Yellow Carded right away.' John Duffield added: 'Tom Curry left his shoulder in the boy Lynagh there. Should have been a yellow. Dangerous.' At halftime, Aussie flanker Fraser McReight was fired up. 'It was pretty chaotic out there and pretty physical. Obviously it's just a battle out there,' he told Stan Sport. Curry scores for the Lions as his teammates erupt. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) 'You know great kicking, we've just got to stay in it discipline-wise. 'The boys are doing great, look at (Lynagh), look at Jergo out there. So f**k 'em.' Nothing like live sport to get the curses flowing. It would be fair to say the expectations of the Wallabies were low coming into this game against a powerful side made up of the best England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales can muster. Calum McClurkin, a sub-editor at the Scottish Daily Mail, made his feelings clear early in the game. Carlo Tizzano scores for the Wallabies. (Photo by) 'I said after the Argentina defeat that could be the toughest game the Lions will have all summer. Not seen much from the Aussies to suggest otherwise. Bang average and as long as the Lions don't force things too much … too many powerful ball carriers for Australia to contain. 'The Wallabies just look so limited. A shadow of what they were even 10 years ago.' Australia has been stuck in a low ebb in the 15-man game for years. If nothing else, the Aussies know the level they need to reach if they're any chance of replicating the famous Wallabies side that beat the Lions 2-1 a long 24 years ago. Originally published as 'Cynical' Tom Lynagh act rocks 'bang average' Wallabies against the Lions
The Advertiser
41 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Demons' May in strife as Blues release pressure valve
Melbourne star Steven May is at the mercy of the match review officer after leaving Francis Evans bloodied and concussed in a huge collision during the Demons' eight-point loss to Carlton. Patrick Cripps led from the front and unsung forward Ashton Moir kicked four goals in the Blues' 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) victory at the MCG on Saturday night. It ended Carlton's four-match losing streak, improving their win-loss record to 7-11 for the season, and eased pressure on embattled coach Michael Voss. But the biggest talking point out of the scrappy affair between two sides that won't play finals was two-time All-Australian defender May's third-quarter clash with Evans. The two players attacked a loose ball from opposite directions and Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier, taking possession before May clipped him high. There did not appear to be any malice in the incident, though May's shoulder made contact with Evans' face and the Carlton forward was soon substituted out with concussion. The Blues were waiting on further assessment to determine whether Evans suffered any more damage. "Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it ... both sort of making a play at the ball and maybe one person was one step late," Carlton coach Michael Voss said. "Obviously then the incident happens, but for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game." May, who had treatment on his sore right shoulder, faces the prospect of being suspended for several weeks over the incident. But he will miss at least one match regardless of the match review officer's findings, after being concussed himself from Tom De Koning's accidental knee to the head in a marking contest late in the match. "Steve's whole intent was to get the ball, clearly," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of the Evans collision. "You can see it when you slow it down, his whole intent was to get the ball. "It's really unfortunate that you get a concussion in the game, and sometimes you can be concussed without (the player) being reported. "It's going to be one of those ones where we'll have to go through the process, but if you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate." Scores were tied when the May-Evans collision occurred midway through the third term after Kysaiah Pickett had sparked Melbourne, who trailed by 19 points at half-time, back to life. Moir converted the free-kick awarded to Evans for May's high contact, and Flynn Young's first AFL goal helped the Blues to a 10-point lead at the final change. Bayley Fritsch got the Demons back within a kick with the first major of the final term, and the tight contest wasn't over until well after Charlie Curnow's long bomb gave Carlton breathing space with less than three minutes to play. Blues spearhead Curnow ended his four-week goal drought with three majors, finishing with 15 disposals and eight marks opposed to May. Cripps had 29 disposals and eight clearances for Carlton, and was at the centre of a half-time melee after a confrontation with rival skipper Max Gawn. Pickett was outstanding for Melbourne with two first-quarter goals and a pair of brilliant snaps - one from each pocket - in the third term. He finished with five goals from 23 touches, while Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver had 26 disposals and seven clearances in his 200th AFL game. Melbourne's loss left them in 13th place with a 6-12 record. Melbourne star Steven May is at the mercy of the match review officer after leaving Francis Evans bloodied and concussed in a huge collision during the Demons' eight-point loss to Carlton. Patrick Cripps led from the front and unsung forward Ashton Moir kicked four goals in the Blues' 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) victory at the MCG on Saturday night. It ended Carlton's four-match losing streak, improving their win-loss record to 7-11 for the season, and eased pressure on embattled coach Michael Voss. But the biggest talking point out of the scrappy affair between two sides that won't play finals was two-time All-Australian defender May's third-quarter clash with Evans. The two players attacked a loose ball from opposite directions and Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier, taking possession before May clipped him high. There did not appear to be any malice in the incident, though May's shoulder made contact with Evans' face and the Carlton forward was soon substituted out with concussion. The Blues were waiting on further assessment to determine whether Evans suffered any more damage. "Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it ... both sort of making a play at the ball and maybe one person was one step late," Carlton coach Michael Voss said. "Obviously then the incident happens, but for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game." May, who had treatment on his sore right shoulder, faces the prospect of being suspended for several weeks over the incident. But he will miss at least one match regardless of the match review officer's findings, after being concussed himself from Tom De Koning's accidental knee to the head in a marking contest late in the match. "Steve's whole intent was to get the ball, clearly," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of the Evans collision. "You can see it when you slow it down, his whole intent was to get the ball. "It's really unfortunate that you get a concussion in the game, and sometimes you can be concussed without (the player) being reported. "It's going to be one of those ones where we'll have to go through the process, but if you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate." Scores were tied when the May-Evans collision occurred midway through the third term after Kysaiah Pickett had sparked Melbourne, who trailed by 19 points at half-time, back to life. Moir converted the free-kick awarded to Evans for May's high contact, and Flynn Young's first AFL goal helped the Blues to a 10-point lead at the final change. Bayley Fritsch got the Demons back within a kick with the first major of the final term, and the tight contest wasn't over until well after Charlie Curnow's long bomb gave Carlton breathing space with less than three minutes to play. Blues spearhead Curnow ended his four-week goal drought with three majors, finishing with 15 disposals and eight marks opposed to May. Cripps had 29 disposals and eight clearances for Carlton, and was at the centre of a half-time melee after a confrontation with rival skipper Max Gawn. Pickett was outstanding for Melbourne with two first-quarter goals and a pair of brilliant snaps - one from each pocket - in the third term. He finished with five goals from 23 touches, while Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver had 26 disposals and seven clearances in his 200th AFL game. Melbourne's loss left them in 13th place with a 6-12 record. Melbourne star Steven May is at the mercy of the match review officer after leaving Francis Evans bloodied and concussed in a huge collision during the Demons' eight-point loss to Carlton. Patrick Cripps led from the front and unsung forward Ashton Moir kicked four goals in the Blues' 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) victory at the MCG on Saturday night. It ended Carlton's four-match losing streak, improving their win-loss record to 7-11 for the season, and eased pressure on embattled coach Michael Voss. But the biggest talking point out of the scrappy affair between two sides that won't play finals was two-time All-Australian defender May's third-quarter clash with Evans. The two players attacked a loose ball from opposite directions and Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier, taking possession before May clipped him high. There did not appear to be any malice in the incident, though May's shoulder made contact with Evans' face and the Carlton forward was soon substituted out with concussion. The Blues were waiting on further assessment to determine whether Evans suffered any more damage. "Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it ... both sort of making a play at the ball and maybe one person was one step late," Carlton coach Michael Voss said. "Obviously then the incident happens, but for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game." May, who had treatment on his sore right shoulder, faces the prospect of being suspended for several weeks over the incident. But he will miss at least one match regardless of the match review officer's findings, after being concussed himself from Tom De Koning's accidental knee to the head in a marking contest late in the match. "Steve's whole intent was to get the ball, clearly," Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of the Evans collision. "You can see it when you slow it down, his whole intent was to get the ball. "It's really unfortunate that you get a concussion in the game, and sometimes you can be concussed without (the player) being reported. "It's going to be one of those ones where we'll have to go through the process, but if you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate." Scores were tied when the May-Evans collision occurred midway through the third term after Kysaiah Pickett had sparked Melbourne, who trailed by 19 points at half-time, back to life. Moir converted the free-kick awarded to Evans for May's high contact, and Flynn Young's first AFL goal helped the Blues to a 10-point lead at the final change. Bayley Fritsch got the Demons back within a kick with the first major of the final term, and the tight contest wasn't over until well after Charlie Curnow's long bomb gave Carlton breathing space with less than three minutes to play. Blues spearhead Curnow ended his four-week goal drought with three majors, finishing with 15 disposals and eight marks opposed to May. Cripps had 29 disposals and eight clearances for Carlton, and was at the centre of a half-time melee after a confrontation with rival skipper Max Gawn. Pickett was outstanding for Melbourne with two first-quarter goals and a pair of brilliant snaps - one from each pocket - in the third term. He finished with five goals from 23 touches, while Demons midfielder Clayton Oliver had 26 disposals and seven clearances in his 200th AFL game. Melbourne's loss left them in 13th place with a 6-12 record.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
The agony, the ecstasy and the comeback that nearly was
We were suddenly back in the match with a show – only 10-5 down. Relief! But again, when the Lions scored both before and after the break, and then another one 20 minutes in to go to a 24–5 lead, it really felt like a lady of wonderfully large proportions was warbling in the stands. Among the packed stands of Lions supporters, Red Rover was over and laughing at our expense. But wait! Relief! In that last quarter, just when all seemed lost, the Wallabies steadied, came back and gave it a real go. First Carlo Tizzano went over and then with a minute to go, reserve half-back Tate McDermott went over to close the gap to a more than respectable scoreline. Hence ... Pride. Go you good things! All up, how great were our blokes in the face of that Lions' onslaught? How wonderful that instead of shutting up shop and just trying to limit the damage, they continued to throw everything at them, backed themselves and never stopped emptying their tanks. In the backline, Alex Jorgensen tested the defence with every touch, as did McDermott when he came on in the last quarter. The colossi in the middle of our forwards were our back-rowers, Fraser McReight who proved himself, once again, world class; Nick Champion de Crespigny who made a fabulous debut which included pulling off a team-high nineteen tackles; and skipper Harry Wilson. (Told yers.) As the second half went on, the pride grew because our blokes started to believe in themselves more than ever. They grew in confidence, even as the Lions started to doubt the result enough that when presented with a kickable penalty with ten minutes to go, they took it in an attempt to ensure the win. That was how far the Wallabies had come in the course of the match, from us fearing being on the wrong end of a 50–0 pizzling. Frustration. Can we get the bloody line-outs to work, as in every time? Particularly in the first half, just when we had clawed back some momentum to threaten them, we threw the ball in . . . and they came away with it. One time, they scored because of our wayward throw. And can we use Joseph Aukuso Suaalii more effectively? Against England at Twickenham last year, the Gifted One showed himself to be something new in the world of rugby – a back who could humiliate an entire forward pack again and again by soaring high above the lot of them at kick-offs and tapping the ball back to our own rampaging forwards. Despite that, in this Test that was tried only once and it didn't work. And instead of kicking it short for him, or at least long to the corners, we kicked it to the No Man's Land of the Lions' 22 – beyond the reach of any of our blokes to put real pressure on, but perfectly suited for them to comfortably gather in and then roof it downfield. Why? Why? Do it short or do it long to the corner, but stop giving it to them in the very spot they most want it! I repeat: if you were the Lions captain, where would you want the ball to go? Short and be hammered, long and be cornered, or betwixt and between so you can belt it downfield and relieve all pressure. Well stop bloody kicking it there! And the other part of the frustration was what-might-have-been. On three occasions the Wallabies went within a Lions' whisker of scoring tries when skipper Harry Wilson and Suaalii both went over and appeared to have scored only to be called back, and then winger Harry Potter was only denied a try because the ball rolled out at the last instant. If only those line-ball tries had gone our way, we really might have snatched it. Hope. See all of the above. I won't say the Wallabies will win next week, but they really might win. They performed creditably well against the best team in the world right now, rose to the occasion and showed every sign of rising still further. Bravo, the lot of them.
