Junior Wallabies gun shapes as perfect Higginbotham replacement

Standing 1.95m and nudging 110kg, Queensland Reds believe they’ve found the perfect man to fill the massive void left by departing Reds legend Scott Higginbotham.

Harry Wilson. Photo: Stuart Walmsley/Rugby AU Media

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Strapping Junior Wallabies ace Harry Wilson is the youngster being groomed for the Reds backrow next year to replace Bordeaux-bound Scott Higginbotham.

In all, 37 players have taken the field for the Reds this season and Wilson, 20, was earmarked to be another in the latter stages of the season after his positive efforts with the squad since late last year.

Selection for the Junior Wallabies stalled that plan but his frontline role and big playing minutes may turn into a bonus when the Reds sort out their pack plans for 2020.

Wilson is the same height at 1.95m and is already nearly nudging the 110kg frame that Higginbotham has been throwing around with such influence in the final stages of the season.

Wilson can make his runs in tight but it is how he revels when bursting into open space a little wider out that makes him such an exciting potential weapon.

Harry Wilson. Photo: Stuart Walmsley/Rugby AU Media

Under his trademark red headgear, he showed those assets in Argentina when the Junior Wallabies beat a 14-man Ireland 45-17 at the World Under-20s Championships.

Wilson burst into the clear in midfield and threw an excellent long pass to Brothers clubmate Fraser McReight to set up the opening try for winger Sione Tui.

Whether it is blindside flanker or No.8, the Reds desperately need an explosive replacement for Higginbotham, whose 32-year-old legs still had plenty of energy against the Blues last Friday night.

Higginbotham’s second try was full of meaning and his follow-up fist pump to the crowd emphasised it in his farewell to Suncorp Stadium where he has scored more Super Rugby tries (17) than any winger or fleet-footed back in Super Rugby history.

Scott Higginbotham is off to France. Picture: AAP

Bryce Hegarty slotted the conversion for a 29-28 win to give Higginbotham an uplifting memory before he heads to French club Bordeaux for two seasons.

The Reds have one final match against the in-form Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night.

The backrow for next year is something of a puzzle.

Just when Caleb Timu was primed to have his biggest season, the two-Test Wallaby has been virtually unsighted because of a silly club suspension for punching and a recent head knock.

Flanker-captain McReight and fullback Isaac Lucas also had strong games for the Junior Wallabies, who are through to the Under-20s semi-finals for the first time since 2011.

The Irish lost a lock early to a red card on a high tackle yet still led 17-10 early in the second half until the spark of Lucas featured in back-to-back tries.

Harry Wilson had a strong outing against Ireland at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Picture: Getty

The showstopper was still to come when towering 2.05m lock Nick Frost plucked the kick-off from the sky, took off himself, fended off the Irish flyhalf and dashed 60m for a solo classic.

The Brumbies will be delighted they have signed the young talent after his flirtation with New Zealand rugby.

The Junior Wallabies still have a tough Pool B clash against England to play on Thursday yet cannot be bumped from top spot because their head-to-head record against Ireland is the first tie-breaker should the Irish be able to match their points.

Junior Wallabies 45 (N Frost 2, S Tui, I Lucas, M Nawaqanitawase, W Harrison tries; W Harrison 6 con, W Harrison pen) d Ireland 17 (C Casey, S Moore tries; J Flannery, B Healy con; J Flannery pen)

Originally published as Junior Wallabies gun shapes as perfect Higginbotham replacement