mens
rugby world championship
Allan Alaalato represented Australia on 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, playing in front of traveling fans in gold. With the event returning to Australian shores in less than a year, Alaalatoa believes Wallabies fans can give the team a boost.
England the great Jonny Wilkinson famously kicked a feeble goal in extra time to beat the Wallabies 20-17 in the 2003 decider in Sydney. But as of last Thursday, the countdown to the latest edition of the event reached a significant milestone.
It was announced last Thursday that 1.3 million tickets had been sold ahead of next year’s event, with Australia set to host more than 250,000 international fans for 52 matches to be played in seven host cities.
The Wallabies will play the debutants of the World Cup Hong Kong China in the opening game on 1 October 2027 at Perth Stadium. But the Aussies still have around 13 matches to play between now and then as they continue to build towards the tournament.
“Knowing he’s going to be at home, it feels different,” Alaalatoa told reporters in Auckland.
“The boys are lifted when you play in front of our fans. The fans really get us going with the sell-out stadiums we’ve played in front of this year and also in Perth with 55,000 on Sunday afternoon. It’s been massive. It’s given the boys a lot and the way he lifts the group.
“When the time comes, it will be a special moment for the guys involved in that squad, but I guess for us we have to keep building week by week to make sure we’re in a good position at that World Cup to play really well for our crowd.”
Alaalatoa and the Wallabies have gathered in Auckland as they eye a two-Test Bledisloe Cup series against All black people. The Wallabies are currently on a six-game unbeaten run, which included a thrilling 28-man draw away to Argentina.
Les Kiss coached the team to five of those results, beating 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 yesterday. You can tell all the boys had a good few days with their families,” Alaalatoa said.
“The result when you look back on it, it was very pleasing to win in Perth. Especially in front of that crowd on Sunday afternoon. I think that’s one of the most positive things this year playing at home in front of sold-out stadiums.
“To be able to get a result for the fans was really good and for us we just want to continue that process this week. We have to go out and do our best at the weekend.”
