NSW Waratahs Jack Bowen is ready to thrive on the big stage as the Junior Wallabies prepare for their second Test against the NZ U20s on Saturday.
Bowen's partnership with captain Teddy Wilson was crucial in their 34-26 win over their NZ counterparts on Monday.
The two have been playing together since they were 13 and the combination was clear to see as the duo picked apart the Kiwi defence.
“I love playing with Teddy. He’s one of my best mates so we have a lot of fun playing together," Bowen said.
“We know the way each other play so we work well together and hopefully we can build that combination.
“He’s quiet by nature until you get to know him but he leads by example.”
Bowen is the next in the long line of brilliant flyhalves to come out of the Waratahs system.
He signed a full-time deal at the start of the year to sit behind Wallaby Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed and Will Harrison.
The established trio have talked about the unity within the playmaking group, with Bowen instantly fitting in and picking their brains.
“I think the main thing is we’re all such a close group the four of us and always trying to help each other whether that is around kicking or competing against each other," he believes.
“We do a lot of stuff off the field like watching videos and sending each other clips of what can work. Also with my preparation, just the little things I pick up and the little tools ‘Donno’ learned from Wallabies camp which has been great for me."
With Harrison and Edmed suffering long-term injuries, Bowen was thrust into the deep end against the Blues on his Super Rugby debut.
“It was a little bit of a weird one,” Bowen explained.
“DC (Darren Coleman) told me on the Thursday before the Saturday that potentially the weekend after I’d potentially make my debut but no promises. It was a little noisy over the weekend and then the Tuesday finding out in the team meeting was a true come true.
“Running out there with a Waratahs jersey on is something I’ll never forget and facing someone like Beauden Barrett at the scrum was incredible.”
It has set up Bowen to succeed on Saturday in the second Test, with the game set to be played as the curtain-raiser for the Hurricanes-Crusaders in Wellington.
The injection of Darby Lancaster provides valuable speed on the wings whilst Taj Annan comes into the starting side.
Captain Teddy Wilson recognised the importance of backing up Monday's stellar performance in their last hit-out before the U20 World Championships.
"Good teams win those games on Monday but great teams go back-to-back," Wilson said.
"We've got a job to do and we're all excited to hopefully get another win on Saturday."
1 Jack Barrett
2. Max Craig
3. Massimo De Lutiis
4. Daniel Maiava-Tapusoa
5. Jhy Legg
6. Lachlan Hooper
7. Nick Baker
8. John Bryant
9. Teddy Wilson
10. Jack Bowen
11. Matias Jensen
12. Taj Annan
13. Henry O'Donnell
14. Darby Lancaster
15. Mason Gordon
RESERVES
16. Chris Mickelson
17. Harrison Usher
18. Trevor King
19. Leafi Talataina
20. Dan Nelson
21. Ned Slack-Smith
22. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
23. Tom Morrison
24. Jackson Ropata
25. Toby Macpherson
