Wright stuff impresses
BRAD Thorn has ignited the career of young gun Liam Wright for a Queensland Reds outfit which never identified David Pocock or Sean McMahon as a similar gem.
Both Pocock and McMahon were inexplicably allowed to slip away from Brisbane as youngsters to dominate for backrows who punished the Reds for their oversights.
Not Wright. Not on Thorn’s watch.
The tall, talented Wright was yesterday thrust into the starting role at openside flanker to face the ACT Brumbies in tomorrow night’s clash at Suncorp Stadium. Angus ScottYoung, also 20, is on the bench to revive a name renowned for some mayhem when dad Sam ripped in for Queensland sides of the late ’80s and early ’90s.
The rookie backrowers and recalled former Wallaby lock Kane Douglas will mend the hole ripped in the Reds’ pack power by the suspensions of Scott Higginbotham and Lu- khan Tui. Thorn has had an eye on how good Wright can be since he first coached him two years ago when he was just 18.
It’s over-the-top to call this lift-off for rugby’s next big thing at flanker. What can’t be disputed is that Wright is different, an openside flanker who breaks the traditional mould of a young Pocock or George Smith.
At 193cm, he’s 13cm taller than Smith for starters and will be a lineout factor where most opensides are not.
“Australian rugby has a great tradition of out-and-out (ball) fetchers but Liam has more to his game as a lineout operator who is also good on the ground and with the ball,” Wallabies coach Michael Cheika said.
Wright has a Zimbabwean father like Pocock and made his mark at the same school, Churchie, after his family arrived from South Africa when he was seven. For Thorn, his rating of the Durban-born Wright also runs to attitude.
“He’s a natural leader, very smart as a footballer and he showed some composure at a difficult time when he played his first minutes (against the Rebels) last Friday,” he said.
Wright is delighted to receive the call-up and has his debut jitters behind him.
“I was a bit nervous waiting on the sidelines but once I got on in Melbourne I was fine ... it was fast, physical, full on, but I had a blast,” Wright said.
“I’ve worked with Thorny and Squab (assistant coach Paul Carozza) for a few years and knowing they back your ability is a huge factor in being confident you’re ready.”
Thorn joked that ScottYoung would be a physical addition but perhaps without his father’s hair-trigger reputation.
“He’s an OP1 student studying medicine so nothing like his old man ... he takes after his mum (Donna),” Thorn said with a laugh.