It’s taken three years and a fitful career path, but Teddy Wilson will finally make his starting debut for the Waratahs at halfback against Queensland on Saturday in Brisbane.
Wilson has been promoted to the sky blue No.9 in the city where his father, former Reds and Wallabies captain David, routinely tore into the Waratahs, and the young halfback has been asked to return the favour after replacing injured NSW skipper Jake Gordon.
Wilson is a former junior boxing champion and with Queensland’s game launched via ball runners like Harry Wilson, Tahs coach Dan McKellar pointed to Wilson’s similarly pugnacious defence as a big reason why they elected to start Wilson. He wasn’t in the 23-man squad last week, but Wilson leapfrogged Jack Grant, who was strong off the bench in the Tahs’ win over the Western Force.
“You’ve got to defend well against Queensland. Teddy’s an outstanding defender, very fit, likes to be in the scrap,” McKellar said.
“He’s got his own threat with his own running game. His core skills improved out of sight. He played that last half an hour against Fiji, and the amount of work he got through defensively was very good. The balance was right for him to start and for Jack Grant to come off the bench.”
Wilson has been touted as a rising star since debuting for the Waratahs in 2022 as a teenager, and then captaining the Junior Wallabies in 2023. He has also been a dominant Shute Shield player, and starred for Easts in their 55-year drought breaking premiership last year.
Teddy Wilson passing for the Waratahs against Queensland in 2024.Credit: Corbis via Getty Images
But Wilson’s career at Super Rugby has been decidedly stop-start, with only 60 minutes in six games off the bench in 2023, and then 68 minutes in five games in 2024. The pattern continued this season, with Wilson coming off the bench in just one game so far this year.
In total, Wilson has played just 140 minutes in 13 games across four seasons, with several coaches identifying the need for the youngster to sharpen up his “core skills”.
“Pass and kicking game is the main area. I think it’s difficult for young nines and tens, and you’ve got to be patient with them,” McKellar said.
“Teddy probably played at school and even at club rugby where you can run your way out of trouble. At Super Rugby and Test Rugby, you can’t. The defences are too strong, so it’s developing that knowledge and understanding on how you control a game. He’s certainly getting a whole lot better in that. I’m really happy that Teddy gets a crack.”
Teddy Wilson celebrates with Junior Wallabies teammates in 2023.Credit: Getty Images
Wilson’s lack of game time has opened a door for rivals to circle the 22-year-old, however, ready to pounce on any signs of frustration. And with Wilson off contract this year, informed sources say the Western Force have made a big play at recruiting the youngster to succeed 34-year-old Nic White.
So with Gordon also off contract and deciding between staying or playing overseas, the Waratahs could face the prospect of losing their top halfback and the young gun they’ve been developing for years – albeit slowly.
Citing his management of Ryan Lonergan and White at the Brumbies, McKellar said at the start of the season he would look to develop Wilson at the Tahs. But giving him a maiden start was not related to any worries about the future, McKellar said.
“We’ve got to develop players here [but] I think Queensland versus NSW is probably not a game where you’re thinking, how can we develop players? It’s, how can we win the game?” McKellar said. “Teddy’s in there because we think he’s the best option to start with for this particular game. It’ll be a great experience for him and his family.”
McKellar lauded the impact of Leafi Talataina against the Force, which convinced him the Melbourne recruit was also ready to start at No.8 just a week after his Super Rugby debut. The 112kg 21-year-old has replaced Langi Gleeson, who picked up a cork but is fit to play and will come off the bench.
McKellar said it was a “privilege” to be a part of the fabled Waratahs-Reds rivalry, dating back to 1882, and he didn’t back down from his provocative comments at the weekend where he said the Reds were the “best team in the comp”.
He grabbed the underdog tag early but the Reds were thumped the next day by the Crusaders.
“I thought for periods they looked like the best team in the comp, didn’t they? When they get their game going, they’re very good,” he said.
“They’re certainly not the first or last that will go to Chrischurch and have a tough day. But there were periods throughout that game where you can see how dangerous they are.”
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