How fans can give the Wallabies a lift during home Rugby World Cup

Allan Alaalatoa has represented Australia at a Rugby World Cup, playing in front of travelling fans in gold during the 2019 edition in Japan. It’s a special occasion as the rugby world comes together, and it won’t be long until the showpiece event heads to Australia for just the second time.

England great Jonny Wilkinson famously kicked a weak-footed extra-time drop-goal to beat the Wallabies 20-17 in the 2003 decider in Sydney. It’s now less than one year until Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, and Alaalatoa believes fans can truly give the Wallabies a boost.

It was reported last Thursday that 1.3 million tickets had been sold ahead of next year’s event, with Australia set to welcome more than 250,000 international fans to the 52 matches that’ll be played across the seven host cities.

The Wallabies will play World Cup debutants Hong Kong China in the opening match on October 1, 2027, at Perth Stadium. But the Australians still have about 13 matches to play between now and then, as they continue to build towards the tournament.

“Knowing that it’s going to be at home as well, it kind of hits different,” Alaalatoa told reporters in Auckland.

“The boys lift when you’re playing in front of our fans. The fans are really getting around us with the sold-out stadiums that we’ve been playing in front of this year, and also at Perth with 55,000-odd there on a Sunday afternoon. It’s been massive. It contributed a lot to the boys and the way that lifts the group.

“When the time comes, it’s going to be a special moment for the boys that are included in that squad, but I guess for us we’ve got to keep building week-in, week-out to make sure that we’re in a good position in that World Cup to really perform well for our crowd.”

Alaalatoa and the Wallabies have assembled in Auckland, as they look ahead to the two-Test Bledisloe Cup series against the All Blacks. The Wallabies are currently on a six-game unbeaten run, which included a thrilling 28-all draw away in Argentina.

Les Kiss has coached the team to five of those results, having overcome the Springboks 42-38 last weekend in Perth. There are more than 910 Test caps between the 34 players in the Wallabies squad, and almost 950 including Nick Frost, who has been named as injury cover.

“It was good to reconnect again yesterday. You can tell that all the boys had a good few days off with their families,” Alaalatoa said.

“The result when you look back at it, it was very pleasing to get a win in Perth. Especially in front of that crowd on the Sunday afternoon. I think that’s been one of the most positive things about this year is playing at home in front of sold-out stadiums.

“To be able to put in a result for the fans was really good and for us, we just want to continue that process moving into this week. We need to go out there and put our best foot forward on the weekend.”