Wallaby discard still not in Joe Schmidt's good books?
SPOTLIGHT: Langi Gleeson candidly admits he’s playing with a chip on his shoulders as he strives to regain a Wallabies spot ahead of the British and Irish Lions’ arrival.
Gleeson’s early-season form has been instrumental in helping the Waratahs make their best start to a Super Rugby campaign since the franchise snared its only title in 2014.
The loose forward was a Test-match fixture under Joe Schmidt in 2024 before having an invitation to a pre-season Wallaby camp rescinded amid reports he was leaving Australian rugby for France at year’s end.
Gleeson on Tuesday cast doubts on his potential move to Montpellier but conceded his Wallabies snubbing is proving a motivator.
“Physically I’m sort of the same as last year, but I think it’s just been a mindset shift. I don’t know, I just feel like I have a point to prove,” Gleeson said.
“I didn’t really have the best start last year and I’ve just got to have that mindset of just being physical with every carry, every tackle and just do it for the boys that are on the field with me.”
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Schmidt appears to be sticking solid with his unofficial policy of only picking players who are committed long-term to Australian rugby.
Last year, he overlooked Mark Nawaqanitawase for the Grand Slam tour of the UK after the dynamic wing signed for the NRL’s Sydney Roosters for 2025.
But Gleeson was coy when asked on Tuesday if his move to Montpellier was a done deal.
“I can’t confirm that but I did tell them [Rugby Australia] that I’m leaving, but I still have to overlook my options,” he said.
A two-try hero in the Waratahs’ 29-24 comeback win over the Fijian Drua last Friday, Gleeson can “sort of” understand why he was asked not to attend the Wallabies camp.
But he is still holding out hope of earning a recall after sitting down with Schmidt after the camp to discuss where he needed to improve during the Super Rugby Pacific season to get another look-in.
“I just wanted to focus on the Waratahs and play as much good footy as I can and try and be in that position that they have to pick me,” Gleeson said.
“Playing against Australian teams, I look forward to playing against my opposition positions.”
His next opportunity to impress comes on Saturday against Western Force loose forwards Carlo Tizzano and Nicholas Champion de Crespigny.
Dan McKellar’s men are playing their third straight home game at the Sydney Football Stadium as the Tahs bid to open a season with a hat-trick of wins for the first time since 2009.
“Carlo Tizzano, de Crespigny, yeah, I look forward to playing them,” Gleeson said.
“It’s really good that we have the first five home games [out of six]. Something we can do is just gel together and just keep playing as a team.
“The boys that came in this year and the boys that are still playing [from last year], we can just really gel and that’s a good thing.
“Then when we do go overseas [to New Zealand], we’ll be more experienced together.”
