Angus Scott-Young has overcome his own injury horror story and now stands to benefit from one of his good mate's setbacks by filling the void left by Liam Wright at the Queensland Reds.
The backrower has found himself stuck in the backrow queue at Ballymore with highly-rated trio Wright, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson potentially set to serve as the Wallabies' long-term No.6, No.7 and No.8.
But Wright's ankle injury in their only trial game will see him out for at least the first two months of the Super Rugby AU season which begins on Friday when the Reds host the NSW Waratahs.
Scott-Young has been named at No.6, fit again after an off-season marred by a serious knee injury that was followed by a skin infection that required a two-week hospital stint, severely inflamed tonsils and finally a tonsil bleed once they were removed.
"But since then my luck's changed," a grinning Scott-Young told AAP.
"Liam's one of my good mates but injuries are a part of rugby and I'm stoked to get more game time and show what I can do.
"I've got pretty strong ambitions to one day play for my country and a lot of boys (at the Reds) have been ticking that off.
"I'd love to play the French (in home Tests later this year); they're red-hot and at a packed Suncorp Stadium it would be unreal."
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The son of former Wallaby Sam, Scott-Young plays with his father's passion but has focused on refining his pilfering and ball-carrying technique this preseason.
"It's a great opportunity for him because he's a very good footballer, but it's a pretty tough trio behind Wright, Wilson and Fraser," Reds coach Brad Thorn said of his backrow options.
"But you've got Angus too; it's very competitive there and there's many different ways to get opportunities and he'll get plenty this year in that No.6.
"He's a leader in the team and will offer a lot for us."
The Waratahs take on the Reds on Friday February 19 at Suncorp Stadium, kicking off at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on Stan Sport and Nine Gem. Buy tickets here.
