‘It was a full surprise’: Wright shocked to be named Wallabies captain

Liam Wright says it was a complete surprise to be named Wallabies captain for Saturday’s opening Test against Wales but concedes it might not be a long-term appointment.

The first chapter of the Joe Schmidt era begins in Sydney with the Wallabies taking on Wales - the team that effectively dumped Australia out of last year’s World Cup in France.

Schmidt’s predecessor, Eddie Jones, sprung no shortage of surprises during his brief stint in charge and the trend has continued into the new year, with Wright confirmed as the least experienced Wallabies captain since Ken Catchpole in 1961.

Wright, who has five Tests to his name, hasn’t played an international match since 2020 but will wear the gold No.6 jersey in a Wallabies back row featuring Fraser McReight (No.7) and Rob Valetini (No.8).

“It was a full surprise,” Wright told reporters. “I was pretty nervous on Tuesday morning ... hopefully [just being named] in the 23. I was very privileged to be able to start. Joe didn’t give me any little heads up or anything like that. That’s the way he likes to play a bit, keeping his cards close to his chest.

“It was a massive honour and a really special moment. It’s been an awesome week.”

Wallabies captain Liam Wright hasn’t played an international match since 2020.Credit: Getty Images

The first person Wright called was his partner - “to make sure I was in the good books there” - before his parents ahead of a training session on Tuesday.

Wright will become the 89th Wallabies skipper, but there is no guarantee he will be the team’s leader for the long term.

“I don’t think there’s a huge long-term view at the moment,” Wright said. “I think it’s probably just focusing on this series at the moment. I’m going to do the best I can in this jersey for as long as I get to. It’ll be in Joe’s hands after that.”

It hasn’t been a smooth path back to the national team for Wright, who has suffered hamstring, shoulder and hand injuries in recent years.

The Wallabies squad at Allianz Stadium on Friday ahead of the first Test against Wales. Credit: Getty Images

Some don’t believe Wright is even in Australia’s best starting XV. Now the Queensland skipper has another ‘c’ next to his name.

“Being away from the jersey with injuries for the last three or four years … having to watch from afar, and especially when my body wasn’t able to do the job, it was tough,” Wright said. “I think that’s built me more into the man I am today. I feel a lot more ready now in the squad than I probably did four years ago.

“I am proud of the resilience I’ve shown and fighting my way back here. I think there was always a belief in the back of my mind that if I could get my body right, play a full season, play consistently … then I could find my way back into the squad.”

Wales have lost their last seven Tests and have not beaten the Wallabies in Australia since 1969.

“We’ve chosen an exciting team and there’s lots of enthusiasm in the debutants,” Wright said. “For us to really unleash that exciting backline … the forwards need to do the job.

“There’s been lots of talk about the World Cup … but it hasn’t been swept under the carpet. The boys have really taken it upon themselves, not to just hide away from it, but to actually learn from it.”

Watch every July International Test Rugby match ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport with All Blacks v England (Saturday 4:00pm AEST), Wallaroos v Fijiana (Saturday 4:30pm AEST), Japan v Maori All Blacks (Saturday 6:50pm AEST), Wallabies v Wales (Saturday 7:00pm AEST), South Africa v Ireland (Sunday 12:00am AEST) and Argentina v France (Sunday 4:50am AEST).