Super Rugby Pacific; Wallabies great David Wilson believes Queensland Reds star Fraser McReight is ready to become face of the Test side

“He’s ready, this year, to really make that spot in the Wallabies his own, and he thoroughly deserves it.

“You don’t want to lose great young players like that, especially when they’re just starting out on their representative career.

“The great thing about him is he was patient, he’s waited, you could see that he had the ability, and I’m sure he was confident in his own ability, and he was confident that he was going to make it.

“He just needed that opportunity, and now with Michael retiring it’s cleared the path for him to really take on that role, and it’s great that Australian rugby have been able to keep him.

“You need a real balance in your back row, and he plays that seven role superbly.”

Speaking before the Reds return to take on the Brumbies, McReight lamented the side’s wasted opportunity in Perth to truly announce themselves as Super Rugby Pacific contenders.

A win would have put them within a Saturday-night victory of a clean sweep of the Australian clubs, but McReight admitted the back-to-back road trips highlighted they had some way to go before being considered competition frontrunners.

While focusing on the looming Brumbies battle – and in particular his head-to-head clash with rival back rowers Charlie Cale and Rob Valetini – he said if Queensland were to break a Trans Tasman title drought dating back to 2011, they would need to overcome their travelling demons.

“If we want to get back to premiership contenders, it’s going to be an important battle on the weekend,” McReight said.

“Suncorp, we love playing there, and we tend to play good football there. It’s on the road where it’s going to be very challenging.

“We’ve got some really tough opponents coming up on the road – going to New Zealand, going to Fiji – it’s a great test.

“We just have to learn how the group goes together on away trips, [and] how we can better prepare ourselves. Are we doing things poorly that results in poor performances?

“That’s all learnings that are going to come and we’ll face in the upcoming weeks.”