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Backrower Fraser McReight didn’t seem deterred by the challenges that await the Wallabies on their upcoming Spring Tour. As they continue to prepare for next year’s British & Irish Lions Tour, the Aussies will take on England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Following the Wallabies’ tough run in The Rugby Championship, which saw Joe Schmidt’s men win just one of their six Tests, the men in gold will probably carry the underdog tag into these Tests. While they did beat Wales twice in July, the other fixtures seem daunting.
But, it must be said, the Wallabies showed plenty of resilience and character during Saturday’s 33-13 loss to the All Blacks in Wellington. While the scoreboard doesn’t necessarily do them justice, the visitors put up a fight after a red-hot start at Sky Stadium.
McReight scored the opener to give the Aussies a lead early, but their New Zealand rivals hit back with a barrage of point-scoring fun. It was close at the break, with the All Blacks leading after a Caleb Clarke try, but the second term was all one-way traffic.
The All Blacks swept the two-Test Bledisloe Cup series.
It’s all about the Spring Tour now.
“We put a lot into the game, played a lot of great stuff, the first 20 and building quite nicely… just wanted a bit more, I suppose, as a result,” McReight told journalists from RugbyPass, Nine’s Wide World of Sports and AAP.
“We are growing as a team and I feel like we’ve got to take our lessons learned and come northern tour, it’s going to be epic. Four games over there.”
Of the Aussies’ upcoming opponents, Scotland are the only side who – just like the Wallabies – didn’t qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals last year. South Africa and Ireland beat them in pool play, but this is still an intriguing clash for Australia.
The last two Tests between Australia and Scotland have been decided by two points or less. Wales and Australia have also played out some epic battles over the years, although the Wallabies will take confidence out of their two wins in the July window.
Ireland are a Rugby World Cup quarter-finalist but they currently occupy top spot in the world rankings. That’ll be an almighty challenge for the men in gold, but their last three Tests have been decided by five points or less.
But, up first, it’s Australia versus England. That’s an intense sporting rivalry that almost doesn’t need any introduction, external hype or discussion. It’s a sporting war that almost always delivers fireworks and passion.
“If you look at the teams we’re coming up against, you’ve got semi-finalists, quarter-finalists, tough teams over there,” McReight explained.
“I feel like we want consistently on the board. Obviously, we want wins… we want to be competitive. It’s probably the way you want to put it.
“Wins are obvious but to be competitive on the scoreboard, competitive in most things around the park; set-piece, defence, attack.
“We don’t want it to be one way or the other for sure.”
