Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt believes captain Harry Wilson’s growing leadership and vast Rugby law knowledge has become a major asset for the team.
Schmidt has kept the captaincy on Wilson for Saturday’s second Test against the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne, with other experienced guys such as Allan Alaalatoa, Jake Gordon and James Slipper assisting.
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The Reds number eight has captained nine of the last ten Tests for the Wallabies since taking over the honour.
Most importantly, Wilson’s knowledge of the game is shining through.
This was evident in the fourth minute when he correctly argued with referee Ben O’Keefe that the quick lineout from Jamison Gibson-Park from in front of the mark should’ve been a turnover Australia’s way, rather than the re-throw that happened on the night.
The play didn’t affect the Wallabies, with Fraser McReight quickly coming up with the pilfer penalty.
But Schmidt believes Wilson’s intricate knowledge of the laws puts him on a similar platform to current Lions assistant and Irish great Johnny Sexton.
Sexton captained the Irish after Schmidt’s departure in 2019 but served as an integral leader in their rise to the top of the World Rugby Rankings before taking over the honour.
“There’s one contentious one about taking a throw-in in front of the mark and what the consequence of that is. Harry had an idea of what not allowing it to go five metres was and expressed that, but was told that wasn't the rule,” Schmidt told reporters. “Those are some of the things that Harry's growing in. I thought that was really good from Harry.
“That's one of the things that I think having had experienced players in the past, and not necessarily even captain, can be invaluable, like even when Johnny [Sexton] wasn't captain, I think he was a bit of a handful for referees because his law knowledge was incredibly good.”
It’s why Schmidt is comfortable with Wilson keeping the responsibility, as the experienced group shares the leadership responsibility, with the powerful number eight continuing to expand his knowledge.
“Harry's done a great job and is captain again this week. Harry is very comfortable with how that is at the moment,” he said.
“We have a pretty strong leadership group and those guys tend to share the responsibility to lead the team. In the huddle today, the guy speaking wasn't Harry; it is very mixed in how those discussions are taken on, and we like the fact that the responsibility is shared.
“Harry doesn't have a massive experience of captaining teams. He hasn't done it that often, so it's still something he's coming to terms with and learning about."
