Why a Wallabies champion believes injury-plagued star must return to fold

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.

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.

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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.