Wallabies captain Harry Wilson is not hiding from the fact that pride is on the line in Saturday’s third Test.
He made no secret of the fact that the manner of Australia’s dramatic late defeat in Melbourne, having led for the entire match, left him crushed. The victory secured the Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Series for Andy Farrell’s tourists with a match to spare.
However, Wilson claims his team cannot wait to rip in as they bid to prevent the Lions from completing an unprecedented clean sweep of matches in Australia.
“We had a couple of days to process what happened and when we came back together on Tuesday, I was really proud of the training session we had,” Wilson said.
“It was like a switch had been flipped. Obviously, everyone was initially a bit quiet, but once we started training, I could see the energy was right back.
“We just want to keep improving. We want to keep being a better team. We need to play an 80-minute game and get the result which I think we deserve for each other.”
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt has made several changes, both enforced and tactical, to the team that pushed the Lions so close in front of a record 90,307 crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa is the latest addition, having faced the Lions three times in recent weeks, for Western Force, the AUNZ Invitational XV and the First Nations & Pasifika side.
Wilson confirmed that hookers Dave Porecki and Matt Faessler were both injured in training this week, with Billy Pollard drafted into the starting XV and Paenga-Amosa now on the bench.
“Obviously, after a bit of a tough Thursday training session, it’s gutting to lose a few great players in Porecki and Fez,” Wilson said.
“I’ve got a lot of confidence in BPA. He’s been around this group for quite a long time over the last year and a half. He’s already faced the Lions three times, I believe. He’s got a lot of confidence and he’s come into the group and fitted in very quickly.
“It’s very familiar for him and he’s already all over it — he’s out there, he knew it all back to front. I think all hookers live for their line-outs, so I think he spent a bit of time in the mind gym last night going over it all.”
Dylan Pietsch, Tom Hooper, Taniela Tupou and Zane Nonggorr also come into Schmidt’s team and the new faces have provided just the boost Wilson wanted after a bruising battle at the MCG.
“We’ve a 36-man squad and we’re all on the same page,” he added.
“The fresh energy the new guys bring has been really effective, especially on the training park.
“They’ve lifted the standards. Having those fresh bodies will be awesome, and they’re all just so pumped to be out there.
“As footy players, it’s very much week to week. Once it’s Tuesday, everyone is pretty aware that we have to switch on, and if you go into a Test match against the Lions not in the right mental space, it’s going to be a tough night.
“Everyone really flicked that switch. We’ve had a really good week and we can’t wait to get out there.”
Wilson also hailed the selection of scrum half Nic White for what will be his 73rd and final international appearance in front of 85,000 at Accor Stadium. Wallabies players sported fake moustaches at Friday’s training session in honour of White’s trademark 'tache.
“He’s a competitor and he’s loved by the group,” Wilson said. “He will be missed in this gold jersey, because he really does represent what it is to be a Wallaby.”
