'A bit of original content would be nice': Why the Wallabies picked Harry Potter in squad
Updated . First published at
Headline writers and bad pun lovers rejoice: Harry Potter is on the verge of making his Wallabies debut.
The 26-year-old outside back was born in England but grew up in Melbourne before attending university in Sydney.
Potter was a member of the Melbourne Rebels squad in 2020 but did not play a game before returning to England to take a contract with the Leicester Tigers, who are now coached by Michael Cheika.
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Harry Potter of the Force warms up. Getty
But Potter still considered Australia home and had no hesitation in joining the Western Force when coach Simon Cron came calling.
A solid, if injury curtailed, debut Super Rugby Pacific season in Perth then caught the attention of Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
"We earmarked Harry probably around the middle of Super Rugby," Schmidt told reporters after naming 34 players for the four Test, Grand Slam Spring Tour.
"I was at a Brumbies game with (assistant coach) Laurie Fisher and we both thought Harry was really good on the day.
"He shone on the day and he picked up an injury on the back of that very involvement, I think the very next game, and was out for a fair period of time.
"I watched his involvements in Bloemfontein with the Force, having played over there recently in the Toyota Cup and felt that a) he was back in the groove and b) a bit of versatility. He played 13 as well as on the wing. And so it's an opportunity for us to bring him into the squad and get to know him a little bit."
Harry Potter of Leicester poses with the Premiership trophy. Getty
Potter was born in London six months after the release of the first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1997.
He was asked about a lifetime of Potter puns in February.
"I wouldn't say sick of them," Potter said.
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"I've had a fair bit of it and I don't really mind it, I think it's quite funny myself - a bit of original content would be nice, but I don't see that around the corner anytime soon.
"Everyone's gone a bit earlier than I'd have liked, but there's plenty of work to do on the Harry Potter puns."
Meanwhile, Schmidt is also excited about the potential of 20-year-old Queensland Reds prop Massimo De Lutiis, who was named in the second string Australia XV to tour the United Kingdom.
The hulking tighthead is yet to make his Super Rugby debut but his 188cm, 126kg frame packs plenty of potential.
His gym strength is already legendary at Ballymore, this year bench pressing 202.5kg in the gym to eclipse the Reds record set by Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou (200kg) four years earlier.
"He's another one of Cronno's (scrum coach Mike Cron) adopted sons really," Schmidt quipped.
Massimo De Lutiis of the Queensland Reds. Queensland Reds
"He adopts anything that eats raw meat, I think. Massimo, he's an impressive young character, not just as a player, he's very driven and we're pretty excited about his future.
"I think sometimes, particularly with a tighthead prop, you can't get too excited too early just because you want to make sure they're ready for the kind of struggle it is - front row at the very top level.
"But he's a good young kid... we haven't seen a whole lot of games from him but we're excited about him getting closer to the top level."
WALLABIES SQUAD
Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson, Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Nic White, Tom Wright
AUSTRALIA XV SQUAD
Angus Blyth, Joe Brial, John Bryant, Josh Canham, Massimo De Lutiis, Tom Hooper, Harry Hoopert, Tom Horton, Tom Lambert, Lachlan Lonergan, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Luke Reimer, Rory Scott, Ryan Smith, Darcy Swain, Rhys van Nek, Lachie Anderson, Jock Campbell, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Josh Flook, Darby Lancaster, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Lynagh, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Andy Muirhead, Ollie Sapsford, Hamish Stewart, Corey Toole, Joey Walton
WALLABIES FIXTURES
Wallabies vs England, 2.10am AEDT, Sunday November 10, Twickenham, London
Wallabies vs Wales, 3.10am AEDT, Monday November 18, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wallabies vs Scotland, 12.40am AEDT, Monday November 25, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wallabies vs Ireland, 2.10am AEDT, Sunday December 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
AUSTRALIA XV FIXTURES
Australia XV vs Bristol Bears, 6.45am AEDT, Saturday November 9, Ashton Gate, Bristol
Australia XV v England A, 1am AEDT, Monday November 18, Twickenham Stoop, London
