By Graham Thomas
Every cloud needs a silver lining, so what shouldn’t Regan Grace provide it in the “Sunshine State” of Queensland?
There have been a few bright individual moments during Wales’ tour of Australia – Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin and Taine Plumtree come to mind – but in the main it’s been a continuation of the long dark cloud Warren Gatland has been under for almost 10 months.
The Wales coach has a chance to get a shaft of light relief on Friday night when his tourists take on Queensland Reds in Brisbane.
On Wednesday, as an appetiser, the Wales squad will watch one of the biggest games of rugby in either code, the deciding third game in the annual State of Origin Series.
NEW: Wales start Regan Grace and name Cory Hill captain as team named overnight https://t.co/to7GexnhYq
— WalesOnline Rugby (@WalesRugby) July 17, 2024
New South Wales and Queensland literally slug it out three-times every year for the right to be called the Australian champions and it is tied at one game all ahead of this week’s decider.
Grace, of course, knows all about rugby league having scored 88 tries in 141 games for St Helens before switching codes. He was a three time winner of the Super League Grand Final and double Challenge Cup winner.
He unfortunately missed out on playing in the World Club Series final against the top National Rugby League side from Australia due to Covid. At Suncorp he will get a flavour of what he might have had to go up against.
League convert Regan Grace to make debut for Wales against Queensland Reds https://t.co/KBhyknpFfC pic.twitter.com/yW6tqxozwr
— The Independent (@Independent) July 17, 2024
All tour he has been taking on-board advice from his new teammates about rugby union, much of which he hopes to be into practice on Friday night if given the chance, but he will be the go-to man in the stands for the biggest game in Aussie rugby league before then.
“Regan hasn’t been able to play yet, but from training you can see how good a finisher he is. He has got on with everyone very well,” said Wales back row man Taine Plumtree.
“This time last year I was just coming into the Welsh set-up when I flew from New Zealand to the World Cup training camp in Switzerland. I found it an easy environment to come into and we’ve been giving as much help and advice as we can to Regan.
“He’ll know all about the State of Origin game it will be quite a cool experience watching the game. We’ve both been on the ‘music committee’ for the tour, but I had to give him the sole job for a week because the boys didn’t like my choices.
“I like a lot of Rap music, which is probably why I haven’t had much success. They all want country music, R&B and sing-along songs.”
https://twitter.com/BBCScrumV/status/1813178013183353199
Grace is among eight players who have yet to feature in the matchday 23 in Australia and he, along with Corey Domachowski, Efan Daniel, Dillon Lewis, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Eddie James and Jacob Beetham, will be hoping to get a shot at the Queenslanders this week.
It is a game in which players and coaches alike are hoping they can use to break a losing run of nine Tests.
The two teams have met twice before, with Wales winning 31-24 in Brisbane in 1978 and then going down 35-24 on tour in 1991.
Results aside it has been an awesome first tour for me. The boys have been enjoying some sun and Australia has been really good,” said Plumtree.
“Nothing changes for us in terms of our game plan against Queensland. We want to end on a high and finish the tour with a win.
“Winning in general helps an environment. Having a win before we all go our separate ways will help the players and the coaching staff.
“We know the Reds will come at us all guns blazing. When I was at the Auckland Blues we knew they like to play a very attacking, offloading game.
“We were right there in both games against the Wallabies, but there were a few areas that let us down. Tiny mistakes that we could have been better at.
“There was an unlucky try when Liam Williams tried to keep the ball in. We need to be more switched on to close games out.
“After the shoulder surgery I had, making this tour was always in the back of my mind. I’m just happy to have had the chance in both games.
“Playing at No 6 and No 8 hasn’t really changed my role in the side. I’ve found I have been able to remain comfortable with my game.
“It has been quite a year for me. A lot has gone on and I’ve loved it.”
https://twitter.com/TheRoarSports/status/1813452751453700442
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