Why a Wallabies champion believes injury-plagued star must return to fold
By Nick Wright
Champion Wallabies captain James Horwill has declared Liam Wright’s name needed to be at the forefront for an international recall, adamant there was a key detail of his game that could help his country out of a tumultuous period.
Wright spearheaded the Reds to a convincing 31-0 triumph of the Highlanders without a host of major figures in the squad – his co-captain Tate McDermott and star flanker Fraser McReight both receiving three-week suspensions following the narrow loss to Moana Pasifika.
Liam Wright’s success in the lineout is a huge reason why former Wallabies captain James Horwill believes he must return to the fold.Credit: Getty
Veteran five-eighth James O’Connor was also sidelined with a hamstring injury, while Seru Uru went under the knife to repair a broken thumb and Josh Flook suffered a shoulder problem.
It loomed as a crucial litmus test of Wright’s leadership credentials, but he delivered in spades – spearheading the Reds’ first shutout of a Kiwi outfit since 1999 with some clinical breakdown work that helped inspire nine turnovers deep inside their own half.
And while Wright will have to contend with the likes of World Cup squad members Rob Leota and Rob Valetini to win back a green and gold jumper, Horwill stressed that Wright’s capability at the lineout – leading the competition for total wins – was an unheralded trait within Australian rugby that would serve new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt well for the July series against Wales.
“I think that’s really been a big asset of his game, particularly if you’re moving forward into potential Wallaby higher honours – having that string to your bow is a real asset, and something we don’t have a lot of in our number sixes,” Horwill told this masthead.
“I think he’s certainly putting himself in the conversation, there’s no doubt about that.
“We’re quite lucky to have some very good backrowers in Australia, but the thing you’ve got to look at is something for him is his lineouts and robustness, and he seems like he’s picked up his physicality a bit, which comes with being more confident in your body.
“Sometimes, subconsciously, if you have a lot of injuries you don’t want to push it, but that certainly doesn’t seem to be a hindrance there with prior trauma.”
Former Reds and Wallabies leader James Horwill (pictured centre) proved instrumental in Liam Wright’s recovery.Credit: Getty
Horwill stressed that the backrower’s resilience and attention to the game’s finer points presented a compelling case. Indeed, having fought through an injury-ravaged period of his career – in which shoulder, ankle, hamstring and hand concerns limited him to 41 games in four years – Wright has become synonymous with overcoming trials.
He has not been sighted in Wallabies colours since playing his fifth Test in 2020, but several discussions with Horwill after he dislocated his shoulder late last season has sparked rejuvenate form.
He struggled with how to remain a leader of the Reds without getting on the field, but at Horwill’s encouragement sought to further his knowledge of the game as a coach during last year’s Queensland Rugby Challenger Series.
It was the same as what Horwill himself did when the Reds’ premiership-winning captain suffered hamstring and knee issues that sidelined him for lengthy periods.
Admitting to feeling “isolated” and “lonely”, the leader of the Wallabies’ 2013 Tri-Nations triumph took an interest in the commercial side of the Reds and walked away with a more “holistic” view of the game.
The move appears to have a triggered career-best form for Wright, but as it stands, he said he was not allowing himself to dream of a Wallabies comeback.
“I’m taking it week by week – I’m very happy just to be on the park every week,” Wright said.
“I’ve had to just go back to looking at the good things and being grateful for being on the park and playing footy.
“I’m loving being able to put 80 minutes in for the team – what will be, will be.”