Wallabies captain embraces chance to build support before home World Cup

Harry Wilson believes the Wallabies have an exciting opportunity to build on the support behind them 15 months out from a home Rugby World Cup, as the team prepares to take on Ireland in front of a sold-out Sydney crowd.

Rugby Australia announced on June 8 that a full house would be watching on at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium when the Wallabies kicked off their season. That Nations Championship opener is now just days away, with a clash against the Irish on Saturday evening.

This is the first time in eight years that Ireland will take the field Down Under, with the last three meetings between the sides taking place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The Wallabies are also looking to snap a five-game losing streak that dates back to 2018.

The Wallabies broke the all-time home attendance record last year, and rugby fans have again snapped up tickets. There are another five Wallabies matches on home soil throughout this year’s international season, setting the scene for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.

“It’s so, so awesome to have all the support we’ve got behind us. We know it’s on us to put out performances and to win Test matches for our country, especially in our own backyard here,” Wilson told reporters in Sydney.

“There’s no better way to start than against the number three Test team in the world. We know who we’re versing, we know how classy they are and I’m sure if we go out there, put a really good performance in, Australia will keep getting behind us.

“It’s exciting for us because it’s on us to put the performance in. It’s all in our hands and that’s really exciting.”

Australian sports fans have a lot to look forward to this weekend, with the Wallabies among the national teams in action on the world stage. The Socceroos are chasing a first-ever FIFA World Cup knockout win, and the Australia Women’s Cricket Team are in the T20 World Cup Final.

Whether you live in Australia, have been fortunate enough to attend the FIFA World Cup or just seen clips of fans on social media, the support behind the Socceroos has been impossible to ignore in recent weeks.

The Socceroos are in action in the early hours of Saturday morning, with the Wallabies taking the field for their own international hit-out 16 hours later. Wilson is hoping the Wallabies can help give Aussie sports fans plenty to cheer about.

“You see what the support for the Socceroos has been the last few weeks, it’s the whole country getting behind [them] and everyone is going to pubs and watching it,” Wilson said.

“It’s a really cool time when you see your whole nation get behind a sport. It’s a really big day of sport tomorrow in Australia; you’ve got the Socceroos, you’ve got the ‘Demon’ over in Wimbledon then with us.

“It’s an exciting day for Australian sport and hopefully it’s a really good day.”