Wallabies eager to prove their progress

Michael Hooper says the Wallabies are now a much stronger, more consistent and confident outfit than they were when the Bledisloe Cup series began.

Wallabies players during the captains run at Suncorp Stadium

The Wallabies believe they have what it takes to beat the All Blacks in Brisbane. (AAP)

The Wallabies are ready to prove just how far they've come since their first-up Bledisloe Cup shellacking in Sydney, captain Michael Hooper says.

Saturday night's clash in Brisbane is Australia's first at home against New Zealand since they were blown away 40-6 in the first half of an embarrassing series-opening 54-34 loss in August.

It was a performance that shattered the team's credibility in the eyes of rugby fans in Australia and across the globe.

But they have been at pains to point out it was an anomaly, and their results since then suggest it was.

The very next week, the Wallabies were pipped at the post in Dunedin and taught a harsh lesson about clocking off against the world champions in a gallant but heart-wrenching 35-29 defeat.

Even that, Hooper said, felt like an "eternity" ago.

Australia's biggest strides were made across the remainder of the Rugby Championship, with a pair of draws against South Africa and wins at home and away against Argentina as coach Michael Cheika put more fresh faces through the wringer of Test rugby.

But for Hooper, there is only one measuring stick that matters.

"We're ready to test ourselves," he told reporters on Friday.

"We've definitely done some good building over the last couple of weeks.

"I think we have got a greater belief in our game and what we can do and we have also seen a lot of players step up within that time as well.

"For us to beat them in front of a home crowd would be fantastic.

"That would do a lot of things for a lot of people and maybe change their perception (about the team)."

If there is a good time to catch the All Blacks, it might be now.

The Wallabies are settled, confident and have extra motivation with former skipper Stephen Moore playing his last Test on home soil.

They will also become the first national side to wear an Indigenous jersey.

Their opponents, meanwhile, are without five-eighth Beauden Barrett and second-rower Brodie Retallick and with the series already settled, they have little to play for but pride.

But Hooper expects they will be strong as ever, with Lima Sopoaga and Scott Barrett stepping off the "industrial line" of Test-quality New Zealand players and into the gaps in the team.

"They have guys that step in week in and week out that can fill a void .. there is no void in the end," he said.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world