BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Whatever the odds or the occasion, one thing that never changes for Harry Wilson is what he wants to be wearing.
After a stop-start beginning to his international career the rugged No. 8 has been picked to wear the gold Wallabies jersey again and to lead the Australian lineup in Saturday’s series-opening test against the heavily-favored British and Irish Lions.
“I’ve just always wanted to be a Wallaby,” Wilson told media Friday as he stood, hands on hips, hair ruffled, on the field at Suncorp Stadium. “To me, it’s the biggest honor you can get.
“Being able to captain your country ... it's something I’ll never take for granted.”
How seriously he takes that responsibility was evident two weeks ago when, with a desperate, twisting lunge, Wilson dragged Fijian defenders over the line to score the decisive try that ensured Australia’s preparation for the Lions series didn’t start with an upset loss.
For head coach Joe Schmidt, who first chose Wilson to captain the Wallabies last year, it solidified his decision.
The absence of explosive runner Rob Valetini means Schmidt will be relying on Wilson to take on more load with the ball in hand against a powerful Lions pack led by lock and skipper Maro Itoje, something he expects his captain will relish.
“We’re very confident," Wilson said. "Preparation ... we've done everything we wanted to do, and we feel like we’re in a really good place.”
The Lions are 5-0 on their tour of Australia so far and there's improving odds they'll sweep the three-test series, speculation that Wilson's Wallabies are desperate to disprove.
“With Wilso, he just loves representing Australia," said Schmidt, a New Zealander who had great success as head coach of Ireland. "I just love the enthusiasm he has for the gold jersey and leading himself well.
"He doesn’t say a lot, Harry, but what he does do well is he demonstrates well. I'm not saying he can't speak — he’s just out of breath a lot of the time.”
Just like he was two weeks ago after scoring two minutes from fulltime to seal that 21-18 win over Fiji. That victory came at a cost for the Wallabies, losing flyhalf Noah Lolesio to injury.
That has resulted in 22-year-old Tom Lynagh, Wilson’s teammate at the Queensland Reds, starting a test in the No. 10 jersey for the first time.
“This week he’s really has found a voice in the group,” Wilson said, confidently leaving the playmaking duties to the rookie flyhalf. “He knows when he gets that No. 10 on his back it’s his team. That’s the way he’s treated it.”
Wilson knows what it's like to be thrust into international rugby at a young age. He burst onto the international scene at age 20 in 2020 in a 16-all draw with the New Zealand All Blacks, quickly earning a reputation as a tough and uncompromising competitor.
He played nine of the next 10 tests for Australia before missing selection for the end of the Rugby Championship, and then didn’t go on the Wallabies’ spring tour.
Wilson returned to the Wallabies in 2022 but then experienced a serious career setback when Eddie Jones didn't pick him in Australia's squad for the 2023 World Cup.
That, combined with Australia's failure to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time, really lit the fire in a kid who grew up in a country town to get back into the gold jersey and help rebuild a reputation.
“You have your ups and downs — no one has a career where you don’t have downs, and I’ve definitely had a fair few," he said. “But I’ve just always wanted to put myself in these situations. It definitely has made the lows all worth it, to get back.”
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Australia's Harry Wilson, wearing a red helmet, celebrates scoring a try against Fiji during their rugby union international match in Newcastle, Australia, Sunday, July 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Josh Allen took a pounding, doled out punishment and delivered Buffalo its first road playoff victory in more than three decades, 27-24 over Jacksonville in the AFC's wild-card opener Sunday.
With linebacker Devin Lloyd bearing down on him, Allen found Brandin Cooks for 36 yards just before the two-minute warning and then capped the go-ahead drive with a 1-yard touchdown run in which Jacksonville let him score.
On the play before his score, Allen gained 10 yards on a sneak, refusing to go down while being pushed and pulled to the goal line.
“Just trusting everybody on the field,” Allen said. "Great win, great team win. All we’ve got to do is play our game, find a way to win a football game. We’re on to the next.”
Buffalo will play at Denver or New England next week, a chance to build a road winning streak after a decades-long skid.
“We got to go do it again. We got to go do it again," Allen said.
Focused on getting rid of the ball quickly and negating Jacksonville’s pass rush most of the game, Allen completed 28 of 35 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. He ran for two scores, was sacked just once and played turnover-free football. Khalil Shakir caught 12 passes for 82 yards for the Bills.
It was necessary considering NFL rushing leader James Cook was mostly bottled up, finishing with 46 yards on 15 carries.
“You know, we’re going to play for each other, we’re gonna fight to the very last second, and you saw that here today,” Allen said.
Buffalo (13-5) intercepted a deflected pass on Jacksonville’s final drive to seal the victory.
The Bills had been 0-5 on the road in the playoffs under coach Sean McDermott, starting with a 10-3 loss at Jacksonville in the 2017 wild-card round. The Bills had dropped eight consecutive postseason games on the road since winning at Miami in the 1992 AFC championship game. It had been the NFL’s second-longest, active road playoff skid.
The Jaguars (13-5) took the lead with 4:03 to play on Trevor Lawrence’s third TD pass of the game, but they couldn’t hold it against the NFL’s reigning MVP.
Lawrence completed 18 of 30 passes for 207 yards, with TD throws to Brian Thomas Jr., Parker Washington and Travis Etienne. Washington finished with seven catches for 107 yards.
Coach Liam Coen surely will get questioned for not running the ball more against one of the league’s most porous run defenses.
Etienne and rookie Bhayshul Tuten combined for 118 yards on just 14 carries.
Allen, meanwhile, showed his toughness. He twice ended up in the medical tent in the first half but didn’t miss a snap. He got hammered in the head twice during one play, with Josh Hines-Allen landing on the side of his helmet right after teammate Travon Walker tackled him to the ground. His left ear appeared to be bleeding, but he got checked out and returned.
Allen later slammed his right hand into the helmet of right guard O’Cyrus Torrence after releasing the ball. And he completed the injury trifecta when his left leg got bent awkwardly on his 2-yard TD run.
Allen stayed on the ground following that last hit from Hines-Allen and gingerly walked to the sideline and back into the tent. But, as usual, the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder powered through and was back on the field making plays.
The Jaguars had a chance to tie the game at the end of the first half, but Cam Little was wide left on a 54-yarder. The miss ended a streak of 20 consecutive field goals made for the second-year pro from Arkansas.
Little kicked the two longest field goals in NFL history this season — a 68-yarder at Las Vegas and a 67-yarder last week against Tennessee.
He got a chance after the Bills were flagged for being offside following a 34-yard completion that got Little into range.
Bills S Jordan Poyer (hamstring) was ruled out to start the third quarter, a huge loss for an already banged-up secondary. It left the Bills to play with rookie Jordan Hancock and second-year Cole Bishop. WR Gabe Davis, who played for Jacksonville last season, injured his left knee in the fourth and was carted to the locker room and ruled out. WR Tyrell Shavers injured his left knee during a punt return but returned in the second half.
Jaguars RG Patrick Mekari (back) left in the third. LG Ezra Cleveland also was banged up and alternating plays with rookie Wyatt Milum. WR Parker Washington was evaluated for a concussion in the first half and cleared to return.
The Bills will play at Denver or New England next weekend.
The Jaguars will turn their attention toward improving a roster that lacked enough difference-makers on both sides of the ball.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills' Ray Davis, bottom right, fumbles a kickoff return from the Jacksonville Jaguars as teammate Baylon Spector (54) and Jacksonville Jaguars' Devin Lloyd (0) try to recover the ball during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is tackled by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen (41) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen gets up after collecting a first down near the Jacksonville Jaguars end zone later in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) pushes in for a first down as Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) tries to stop him during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
