Harry egged on to power Reds’ pack
HARRY Wilson has been devouring eight eggs a day to add helpful bulk for his nowcertain Super Rugby debut for the Queensland Reds on Friday night.
Trials in Gladstone and Dalby were sketched as auditions but he was so impressive in both that he is a slam dunk special to wear the No. 8 jersey against the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
Ushering in the 1.95m Junior Wallabies graduate instantly adds what every Super Rugby pack is looking for but struggles to find.
Wilson, 20, has that happy knack for timing his bullocking runs so that he invariably makes metres in contact and his off-loads are natural rather than high risk.
In the trial against the Waratahs in Dalby last Friday night, he picked up a sweatcoated ball at the back of the scrum, ploughed through two defenders and got his right arm free to plant it one-handed for a try.
He throws around his 112kg as if every kilo is meant to count and you can’t miss him under his trademark red headgear.
Skipper Liam Wright will be at openside flanker while Angus Scott-young and versatile Lukhan Salakaia-loto will likely both see time at blindside flanker in the Super Rugby opener.
Wilson is already happy with the egg-cellent results from his off-season diet.
“I’m a bit of a fussy eater but there are always eight eggs-a-day in there somewhere whether they are fried for brekky or hard-boiled and cut up on salads,” Wilson said.
“Having that extra 2kg makes a difference to your confidence in contact and I also did plenty of agility work during the off-season.”
Wilson also has an added advantage because young flyhalf Isaac Lucas, 20, has been tuned to Wilson looming in support since their 2016 school days in the Gregory Terrace First XV.
“I’ve tried to take the confidence from last year and back myself more,” Wilson said. “Even though I didn’t play a game for the Reds last year, it was a huge benefit training with the boys and getting to know them.
“I know their strengths on the field and maybe they know my strengths now.” The Brothers product is likely to be the only Super Rugby debutant in the Reds’ first side of the season.
Reds coach Brad Thorn wisely used both trials to bed down the framework for his starting backline.
Wallabies Jordan Petaia and James O’connor will be a dangerous centre pairing outside young halves Lucas and
Tate Mcdermott. Recruit Henry Speight and 2019’s big improver Jock Campbell are set to start on the wing with Bryce Hegarty at fullback and Chris Feauai-sautia as a supersub. Wallabies regular Izack Rodda (ankle) will be ready after returning to contact training this week while Alex Mafi may forfeit his 2019 hooking spot because 2018 Wallaby Brandon Paenga
Amosa was more impressive in the trials.
REDS (possible starting team): Bryce Hegarty, Henry Speight, Jordan Petaia, James O’connor, Jock Campbell, Isaac Lucas, Tate Mcdermott, Harry Wilson, Liam Wright (c), Angus ScottYoung, Lukhan SalakaiaLoto, Izack Rodda, Taniela Tupou, Brandon PaengaAmosa, JP Smith.