Wilson hungry to seize final Wallabies chance

Wallabies number eight Harry Wilson is looking to make the most of his latest call-up after being selected to start against Georgia in Sydney on Saturday.

Wilson has been a fixture in the Wallabies squad since his debut in 2020, slotting into a fiercely contested Australian defensive line.

Tickets for the Wallabies’ 2024 home Test season are available here.

He broke through in the Rugby Championship that season but has played just six Tests in the past three years, with Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt admitting consistency is a key factor for the Reds star.

“For a big guy, he’s a good athlete. So we want to see the athleticism. He’s got a good skill set. I think it’s probably just the consistency of that skill set,” Schmidt said.

He has to show that every time… and by staying in the game, because the way some teams play, he plays quite on the edge and I think sometimes he wanders off a bit and then falls out of the game.

“With a player like Harry, he has to stay in the game even if he’s not directly on the ball. He has to stay aware of what’s happening so that when the ball is available, he’s ready. And when it is, he’s a weapon.”

Now Wilson gets the chance to show his growth and make his spot permanent after recovering from a broken arm.

“That’s been my testing career so far, quite a bit in and out,” Wilson said.

“I’m just so hungry to be in the squad and try to stay in the team. I think it’ll all work out well if I can go out there and perform for the team and do my job.

“There are definitely moments when you question yourself. But I know I’m still young and I have a lot of football in me in the future. You always have that confidence in yourself that you know you can come back to this arena.”

Wilson’s absence from the Test squad could also be linked in some way to the emergence of Rob Valetini at international level.

Both number eights have faced each other in Super Rugby, but Valetini has made the number eight shirt his own in the past, winning the John Eales Medal in 2023.

Understanding their similar playing style, Wilson has been working with Reds assistant Zane Hilton to refine his set pieces to better serve the powerful duo.

“I always enjoy playing with Bobby, I love him as a footballer and who he is, so I can’t wait to pull on the shirt alongside him,” Wilson added.

“It changes my role from what I’m used to. There’s a bit more emphasis on the regular parts of the game. I’m really excited about that because I feel like that’s the next evolution I want to work on in my game.

“It’s a great opportunity to show that against the Georgians.”