‘Apprentice’ steps up to fill big void
ONE of the first people to contact Fraser McReight after his two-try performance was the man who made it possible for him to step into the Wallabies No.7 jersey.
Michael Hooper, who remains out of the squad after suffering burnout and withdrawing one day before Australia played their first tour match in Argentina on August 7, was watching his side defeat the Springboks from his Sydney home.
“He texted me after the game and brought up the two tries I got, he’s probably sitting at home wishing he scored those,” McReight said.
“He’ll be right and hopefully he comes back soon.
“I miss him and I want to keep learning off him, he’s one of the greats so hopefully
he comes back soon. We’re two different players, but being his apprentice and learning from him has been wonderful for me.”
Hooper may make himself available for the Bledisloe Cup series starting on September 15. He may return for the spring tour later this year. Or he may take the rest of the season off.
As coach Dave Rennie explained recently, there is no timetable on the situation.
It is an unusual predicament for McReight, who has toiled behind the inspirational captain for two years, often wondering how he would get a start.
“I had planned in my mind that he was going to play this series … so for me it was more about biding my time and knowing that I was doing everything I can so once an opportunity was to happen – my brain was thinking via injury or whatever, not anything like this – that I would play well enough that I could keep a spot,” McReight said.
“Who knows? I’m just doing a job for the team at the moment, I want to do him proud, do the jersey proud, do the team proud, if I keep doing that, if he comes back and starts at 7, he’s a legend of the game and that’s what’s going to happen.”
Since his last-minute callup three Tests ago, 23-yearold McReight has shown he is up to Test standard, and judging by his energetic performance against the Boks, including tries in the second and 57th minutes, and a crucial turnover, he’s growing as a backrow star.
“It was a whirlwind action, it was a Friday (before the Argentina game) and I was expecting obviously not to play that whole week,” McReight said. “Obviously what happened, happened. Hoops leaving created an opportunity for myself to step in that jersey.
“He’s been wearing that jersey for a decade, so it was a big honour, I want to do him proud and I want to do the jersey proud.
“I thought I did that, but it’s a big learning curve and lots of developing on and off the field, and just understanding what Test footy is about.”