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Wallabies coach Les Kiss is hoping the players will get some payback for their hard work behind the scenes as the Aussies look to bounce back from back-to-back Bledisloe Cup defeats during a grueling Spring Tour.
Joe Schmit ended up in the top Wallabies job after July Nations Championship games, with Kiss taking the lead ahead of the two-Test series against the Brave Blossoms. The Wallabies were on a six-match unbeaten run before facing the All black people in their Eden Park fortress.
The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup with a comprehensive win at home, before backing it up with another clinical performance on the road. But Kiss and the Wallabies have turned their attention to the four-Test spring tour, which begins in just over a week.
England, Scotland, Wales and an opponent to be determined in the final weekend of the Nations Championship awaits the Wallabies. Kiss spoke of how significant it would be if the Wallabies could reap the rewards of their persistence and continued belief.
“I hope they get a payback for the absolute work they do. If you think about what we could be, we’ve pushed it and I just hope they can break some threshold,” Kiss said on Kick Offs and Kick Ons.
“Just a big dose of luck would be good, you know what I mean? Just a big dose of luck sometimes and it just kicks in and they go for it.”
“For them, I think that would be really cool, just to realize that what they’re doing is meaningful and worthwhile.”
Max Jorgensen famously flew down the left touchline as the Wallabies won by five points England two years ago. It was Joseph-Aukuso Suaali’s first match in Wallaby gold and the result caught the attention of a sports-mad nation.
The Wallabies returned to the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham last year and England emerged victorious that night. England ran away with a 25-7 victory, the last time they met.
Coach Steve Borthwick named a 36-man England squad for a training camp with the British and Irish earlier this week Lions skipper Maro Itoje a key inclusion. Fin Baxter, Ben Curry, Wil Stuart and Joe Merchant are among others returning to the England mix.
“The talent in that country is unbelievable. It’s going to be a pretty impressive team to put together,” Kiss added.
“It’s going to be tough, but that’s the kind of game you want, right? That’s where you want to be and it’s going to be interesting.”
