Wallabies squad bolter Leroy Houston yesterday recalled the day his father launched a teenage Carlos Spencer into first-class rugby and dreamed of a similar rapid rise.
New Zealand-born Houston, 18 years and 10 months old, was named by coach Eddie Jones in the Wallabies' preliminary squad of 45 for their
European tour.
Less than a week ago the 1.91m, 115kg loose forward was playing reserve grade for Sydney club Eastwood.
Houston recalled how his father Scotty Houston plucked Spencer, 16, from the Waiopehu College first 15 to play for Horowhenua in 1992.
"They reckon Carlos carved that day," Houston jnr recalled to the Sydney Daily Telegraph yesterday.
The younger Houston could sympathise with such a selection shock yesterday.
Two seasons ago he was running around with his local junior team in Sydney's north-west as an overgrown 16-year-old.
If Jones includes Houston in his 30-man tour squad on October 10 and he actually plays a test in Europe, he will be the youngest Wallaby since former test captain Mark Loane more than 30 years ago.
"Bloody oath," he smiled.
"Mate, I'll have a crack at anything. If the opportunity comes, I'll take it."
Houston, left New Zealand with his family five years ago and left Asquith Boys High in 2002.
He took on a landscaping job, played age-grade rugby with the Beecroft juniors in 2003 then headed to Eastwood last season.
At 17, he and won selection as a No 8 for the Australian under-19 team.
This year he has played all but three games for Eastwood's top team and starred for Australia at the under-21 World Cup.
While he was back to reserve grade for a club final last week after Scott Fava reclaimed the Eastwood No 8 spot, Houston was already well known to Jones.
"He's just a very good footballer, a natural player," Jones said.
"He's one of these guys that gets himself into the right spot at the right time. He's big, he's young and he's aggressive. He's most definitely a chance for the final 30."
- NZPA
