Wallabies looking to settle 'merry-go-round' of selections against Italy
Australia have never lost to Italy but winger Tom Wright says the Wallabies are blocking out outside noise that it is the easiest Test of their spring tour.
With an unbeaten record that stretches 18 Tests, the Wallabies have identified their clash with Italy in Florence this weekend as a danger game.
The Australians are coming off a spirited one-point loss to Six Nations champions France but too often this year have they backed up their best performance with their worst.
They haven't tasted back-to-back victories since winning five straight last year and they haven't won more than one Test on a European tour since 2016.
The Wallabies have never lost to world No.12 Italy, who they last played in 2018, but winger Tom Wright said they needed to make sure they approached the match with the same intent as they did against the heavyweight French.
"The main messaging is around that we respect Italy and keep out the outside noise ... around what could be perceived as an easy game for us on this tour, or the easiest," Wright told reporters.
"It's about making sure that we as a squad front up this week - it's very easy to get up when you're playing France or Ireland, the top two teams in the world, so we need to make sure we put the same emphasis on playing well and preparing the same way against Italy."
Coach Dave Rennie will name his team on Thursday with many Wallabies fans eager to see Jock Campbell, who made his starting debut against France in Paris, get another start.
Wright admitted the Wallabies fullback role had been a "merry-go-round" with no player able to nail the spot ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup in France.
He felt Reds star Campbell, a late Test bloomer at 27, brought a lot of great qualities to the position.
"It's been well-publicised around how underrated he's (Campbell) been and he's waited for his opportunity for a really long time," Wright said.
"To see him front up on one of biggest stages in the world, he didn't shy away from the occasion, executing our game plan.
"There's been a merry-go-round of guys go through there (fullback), me included, and Jock is cool, calm and collected and extremely well liked by the group.
"You saw in his performance, not a lot rattles him."
Campbell and Wright both fell off tackles on the French winger Damien Penaud as he scored the match-winning try.
Wright said he had "owned" the defensive error while the team review revealed plenty of positives to take from the Paris match.
"It sucked for the group, sucked for me and Jock but I've just got to own that moment," Wright said.
"The team review, we didn't just look at the last try and think how shit was that game, we looked at the first 75-odd minutes and what we did really well.
"We know Italy are going to be no slouch this weekend, especially at home and it's a new environment for a lot of guys.
"It's certainly been a focus point for us, making sure that we show up, especially coming after a performance that we were proud of."
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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