Saturday’s all-Australian showdown between the Western Force and Queensland Reds has all the hallmarks of a SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific classic.
There’s Wallaby match-ups all across the paddock – Tizzano versus McReight, Lynagh versus Donaldson, White versus McDermott to name a few – and the expectations for both sides are sky high.
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Yet among the building tension and mounting Lions speculation, there’s one man who’s quietly preparing to stake his claim – Reds co-captain and one-time Wallaby skipper Liam Wright.
Wright, 27, hasn’t carried a ball in anger since July last year after sustaining a shoulder injury during his international comeback against Wales but there’ll be plenty of feeling when he finally makes his top-flight return at HBF Park.
“I was definitely angry about it at the start, just having to work so hard to get back there (Wallabies) and get my first start which was something I’ve always been craving,” Wright told rugby.com.au.
“The captaincy thing added just a bit more, you know, thinking this could be your time to make a mark and enjoy it and grow, so yeah definitely angry.
“But towards the end I was just a bit sad. I think the hardest part through last year was just being so desperate to get back into it.
“I just felt so much pressure to get back into footy but ultimately I’d keep getting these knocks and setbacks. It’s not something you can control so I just had to try and forget about the noise.
Wright’s return to play could’ve come during the Wallabies Spring Tour were it not for a seemingly innocuous clean-out in training two days before their departure.
Instead, he'll make his return via Les Kiss' bench to tackle the unbeaten Force in Perth on Saturday.
“It was literally the last session before Spring Tour during the two-day Wallabies camp. I thought I was back, I'd got rid of the non-contact bib and feeling confident.
“The shoulder felt as strong as it had been in years and then it just went again in a nothing cleanout.
"I’d finally started letting myself believe again too, thinking I might get to tour, get back in the squad, and find a way to earn my jersey back so that was so disappointing.
"I'm just excited now. It's been a real journey this one. I'm just going to enjoy being back out on the field."
