'We've grown a lot': Wallabies eye victory over 'best team in the world'

This is how Wallabies flanker Carlo Tizzano wants this weekend to pan out: Fremantle saluting in the AFL grand final on Saturday and Australia beating world champions South Africa in front of a rocking Optus Stadium crowd on Sunday night.

Perth is abuzz with Flagmantle fever ahead of the Dockers’ date with destiny against Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday.

It’s little wonder the Wallabies’ arrival in Perth has gone mostly unnoticed.

But rather than feeling a bit miffed, Wallabies players are keen to lap up the Dockers-inspired party atmosphere, and they hope they can add to the happy vibes.

Perth-born Tizzano is leading that charge.

“We’re behind Freo all the way, and hopefully they get a good win,” Tizzano told AAP.

“The atmosphere here is crazy. You saw what Fremantle was like after their preliminary final win, and what a game that was.

“They’re the minor premiers, so they’ve got a lot of momentum, and hopefully they win the grand final for the first time ever, and then we get the win on the weekend as well.”

Like Fremantle, the Wallabies will start as underdogs when they face two-time defending World Cup champions South Africa.

The Springboks beat Australia 30-12 in their last visit to Perth in 2024.

Tizzano was playing just his second Test on that wet and wild night, and although his team didn’t come away with the win, the 26-year-old lapped up the experience of donning the Wallabies gold in front of family and friends.

Australia have won three and drawn one Test under new coach Les Kiss.

And taking into account the Wallabies’ 57-10 win over Italy in Perth in Joe Schmidt’s last match in charge in July, Australia are on a five-match unbeaten run.

Tizzano hopes the team can produce something special to take down South Africa, who arrive in Perth full of confidence following a 3-1 series win over New Zealand.

“South Africa are the best team in the world, so what better way to test what we’ve been doing and everything we’ve been working on than doing it against the best?” Tizzano said.

“To get the win will be will be unreal. I think we’ve grown a lot since we last played them in Perth.

“But it’s all about making sure we do all the things we’ve been talking about during the week. And if we do that, then we should get a good result.”

The Wallabies have included uncapped Western Force recruit Harry McLaughlin-Phillips in the 34-man squad.

But the biggest addition was the return of star back Jordan Petaia, who left the Queensland Reds in 2014 to pursue his NFL dream, and hasn’t played for the Wallabies since the 2023 World Cup.

The Springboks arrive in Perth without Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende after the veteran duo were released from the squad to spend more time with family.