'Mouthguards in': Tensions rise at Wallabies training

Exacting revenge is not the motivation as the Wallabies admit to having one eye on Fiji and another on the British and Irish Lions ahead of a high-stakes season-opening Test in Newcastle.

The countdown is well and truly on until the July 6 clash with Fiji at MacDonald Jones Stadium, where Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be casting a discerning eye over those fortunate enough to get first crack this year in the gold jumper.

The opening Test of the showpiece series against the touring Lions will take place 13 days later in Brisbane.

Sam Cane on the differences he experienced with the Barbarians

Sam Cane on the differences he experienced with the Barbarians

It should be no surprise then that star fullback Tom Wright conceded competition for spots in the 23-man team to tackle the Lions for the first time since 2013 was starting to really heat up at training.

“That was our fourth field session today,” Wright said after Friday’s robust run in freezing Newcastle.

“So we’ve had four pretty decent licks and looks at each other in terms of combinations starting to build and combinations trying to force Joe and the coaching staff’s hand in terms of ‘look at me and I’m available for selection’.

“A few things are heating up for training and (it’s hard) just keeping a lid on it until we get mouthguards in and have a real good look at each other, which is nice.

“Any time you come together you get the best out of yourselves because you know you’ve got to be on your game, because the talent around us is the best in the country.”

The fullback frontrunner, Wright ranks the opportunity to face the Lions above playing in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

“The Lions tour is probably second to none in terms of obviously that 12-year gap,” he said.

“You get a lick and then it goes away for 12 years and then it comes back around again.

“So it’s probably bolted in there at No.1 in terms of how cool the spectacle they’re going to bring is and how exciting that opportunity is.”

Fiji beat the Wallabies for the first time in 69 years to all but eliminate Australia from the last World Cup.

But with so much on the line this time around, the Wallabies insist redemption is not the driving factor to topple the Pacific Islanders in the two teams’ first meeting since.

“It hasn’t been mentioned, being an avenging game,” Wright said.

“But our first hit-out of the year is going to be super exciting. We know the talent the Fijians have got.”