“Dad strength” is getting the credit for igniting the Wallabies comeback stories of Tom Wright and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
The Brumbies fullback and the Rebels lock are expected to feature on Joe Schmidt’s first team sheet when the Wallabies 23 is named on Thursday.
Wright was axed by former coach Eddie Jones after making some costly errors in Australia’s 34-31 loss to Argentina in Sydney last year.
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The 26-year-old didn’t get a look in after that match but his Rugby World Cup omission flew under the radar because of the Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper selection bombshells.
Wright rebounded superbly from the disappointment and Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts team (Stephen Hoiles, Morgan Turinui and Sean Maloney) picked him as their Australian Super Rugby Pacific player of the season for 2024.
“Maybe the dad strength. That’s what Lukhan’s telling me anyway,” Wright told reporters on Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s season opening Test against Wales.
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“Everyone’s quick to ask about that but I probably didn’t change a whole lot apart from just the extra body in the house at home (Wright’s daughter Indi).
“You have to switch off. Trying to give her the puree at night – that’s a pretty hard part of my day. Coming through the door, drop the bag and, yeah, it’s pretty much the best part of the day – coming home…
“Nothing drastically changed physically or anything and it’s hard for me to judge (whether it is) my own career best form, but I feel confident nonetheless.”
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Schmidt is conservative by nature and doesn’t like overly ambitious offloading.
But Wright’s strength is his attacking flair and he won’t go into his shell.
“He’s definitely put a little bit of a roving licence in,” Wright revealed about the Wallabies back three tactics.
“A lot of emphasis on being able to link with our bigger guys, trying to play a little bit tighter, give ourselves a little bit more room on the edges.”
Saturday’s clash features two teams low on confidence and searching desperately for a win.
World No.9 Australia are heavy favourites with the bookmakers against a Wales team that thrashed them 40-6 at the World Cup in Lyon last year.
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But Wales have lost their last seven Tests with a rebuilding squad and have slumped to 10th in the rankings.
Kiwi coaches Schmidt and Warren Gatland know each other inside out from their battles in the Six Nations.
“The first thing Joe did was bring a group together and come in and say look, it’s not about him reinventing the wheel within five minutes,” Wright said.
“He’s brought a coaching staff from here, there and everywhere who have got respect from all their different angles. Laurie (Fisher) has obviously been one of the ‘GOATS’ of Australian rugby coaching. Mike (Cron), Geoff (Parling) from Melbourne, we’ve got the coaching staff there to give us everything we need as players. So I think that’s exciting for us.”
Salakaia-Loto, meanwhile, is in line to play his first Test since 2021.
He admits he got complacent at the end of his run with the Reds but a stint in England with Northampton before returning home via Melbourne had him primed to add to his 30 caps.
“Back in 2021 I needed a change,” the now 27-year-old reflected.
“A bit of soul searching and overseas was the place for that. Similar to Wrighty, had a family, got two kids now with my partner.
“So I think just in life in general, it’s made me a better person. And that flows on to being a better player.
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“Going overseas and seeing things through different lenses, different perspectives, helps you grow. It was so beneficial for myself.”
Northampton teammate and England star Courtney Lawes was an inspiration.
“His game speaks for itself and him as a person, he was a massive influence.”