The buoyant Wallabies are on their way to Cardiff, where they’re hoping to back up their breakthrough victory over the All Blacks with a win in Saturday night’s (Sunday morning AEDT) Test against Wales.
Australia got the best possible start to their spring tour with Saturday’s 26-24 last gasp win in Hong Kong and are now intent on making amends for last year’s failed grand slam campaign.
Coach Robbie Deans admits breaking the 10-match losing sequence to the All Blacks has released some pressure.
“It’s fair to say there is a significant sense of relief,” he said.
“That’s on a group behalf, essentially.
“I’m just pleased for them because when you’re on the inside you can see the progression but until you get the confirmation, who cares?”
Deans said the tough times his side had faced may have been a blessing in disguise as they build towards next year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
“Sometimes that adversity does serve you well,” he said.
“It’s not easy, it’s not palatable along the way and it’s not much fun but you’ve just got to keep the faith that so long as you keep heeding the lessons and keep going and keep adding to what you’ve got you’ll get to that point.
“Until it’s done it’s just an idea.”
Hong Kong hero James O’Connor, who scored a try after the siren to level the scores before booting the match-winning conversion, was still coming to terms with his achievement.
“It still hasn’t really hit me, I guess it’s going to in the next few days,” he said.
“My parents are pretty pumped, I’ve had a fair few messages, that’s been good.
“I guess for me, it’s done, I’m stoked about it but I guess it’s moving forward now to the Welsh game and that’s going to be my focus.”
The Wallabies arrive in Cardiff on Monday to begin preparations for the Millennium Stadium Test.
They have an 18-1-10 record against the Dragons, 10-1-8 in Wales, and have one four of the last five Tests between the nations.
AAP dpb/gc
Fragglerocker
Roar Rookie
My memory of 10 years ago might be fuzzy (and under the influence of Brains SA) but I do remember being very dissappointed at the crowd size as were many of the Welsh I spoke to after the game (they were also sufferieng from Brains SA disorder).
p.Tah
Guest
perhaps the pints weren't flowing that day http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/10/31/we-ll-drink-to-lager-milestone-91466-27573026/
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
Your idea has merit, but you lose credibility by saying the millenium stadium was mostly empty. the millenium stadium has never been mostly empty when Wales are on. Espically if the aussies are in town. 62K turned up a friday night to watch Samoa play Wales a year or two back. So please do not blatantly lie to attempt to make a point.
Fragglerocker
Roar Rookie
My apologies to David as this post is off topic, although I thoroughly enjoyed the article. Unfortunately there isn't an open thread to post this and it isn't large enough to submit as an article on it's own. However on the topic of Cardiff, the only Aust v Wales game I went to in Cardiff was 2001 and the Wallabies were unbackable favourites, so Millenium Stadium was mostly empty. I'm looking forward to this game, as an Australian win is far from certain. Australia just doesn't yet have the consistency needed to threaten for the world cup. On a good day - yes we can beat any team, but it's also true that on an off day we can be beaten by Scotland, or Italy (I was originally just going to post this in AFL comments but I'm dropping it in Rugby comments as well to see what my fellow rugby followers think) First off I'll point out that I'm a rugby fanatic. But I don't want to start a code war in comments so I'll acknowledge the popularity of rugby in Australia has nothing on the popularity of AFL, and on the rare occasions I have played Aussie Rules I've thoroughly enjoyed myself.......Now I'll get to my actual comment. I'm a strong supporter of the AFL/GAA international rules concept. I enjoy watching the games, and like the idea of Australian and Irish players getting the chance to represent their countries. I think the compromise rules are very well balanced between the two codes judging by how close the scores have been over the years they have been playing. But I think it could be improved with a fairly radical suggestion. But first two facts: 1. The largest crowd ever for an international rules game in Australia was for the 2003 game at the MCG. The simple reason was that the Australia v Ireland rugby game (world cup pool match) was on the following night at the same venue. 2. The largest crowd for an Australia v Ireland rugby game in Australia in the last 15 years was the 2003 game in Melbourne. The main reason was the fact that it was a Rugby World Cup match but it can't be denied that another reason was that Australia played Ireland in the international rules match the night before.....I think you can guess where I'm going with this. In addition the Melbourne cup was on that week as well and several Irish horses took part. In addition to the thousands of Irish expats/backpackers that flocked to Melbourne that week from all over Aust and NZ, thousands flew out from Ireland. Melbourne was painted green for a week as pubs were drenched in Green and Guinness. So here's my suggestion: The ARU, IRFU, GAA and AFL call a truce, get together and work out a playing schedule that sees the international rules series played every second year with a corresponding rugby match in the same city (Melbourne cup week would be good for when Australia hosts). Every two years works for AFL as most commentators agree that playing it every year leads to a loss of interest. Every two years works for the ARU as they can alternate between RWC years and Lions tour years. The only hurdle would be bringing the Irish rugby team down for a one-off match at the start of the Autumn series, but it's only once every four years and money talks. The Victorian Government, Tourism Ireland and Tourism Australia could market it as a week long festival. What the hell, bring Soccer Australia in on it as well if you want. I realise that the biggest benefit would be gained by the ARU but nevertheless, both codes would benefit, and neither code's supporters like to see their national teams play in half-empty stadiums.