The Wallabies are en route to London with high hopes of ending their turbulent season with a rare European clean sweep.
Not since 1996 under the late Greg Smith have the Wallabies won all four Tests on a spring tour, but Wednesday’s appointment of triumphant Super Rugby coach Michael Cheika has filled the touring squad with renewed optimism.
The Wallabies open their northern hemisphere campaign against the Barbarians next Saturday at Twickenham before confronting Wales, France, Ireland and England in Tests on four successive Saturdays.
Despite coming off three straight defeats to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, five-eighth Bernard Foley said the Wallabies’ clear goal was an unbeaten tour.
“We wouldn’t sell ourselves short and not want to win all four Tests,” Foley said before the 33-man squad’s departure on Friday.
“That’s why you play the game. You don’t go out there to lose.
“So we’re looking to win all five games and start that winning culture because it does become a habit.”
Foley said the Wallabies were relishing the chance to escape the dramas and turmoil that have engulfed Australian rugby and culminated in Ewen McKenzie sensationally standing down after last Saturday’s gut-wrenching 29-28 loss to the All Blacks.
“As a team, it’s great to get away from it. We can sort of internalise it a bit now,” he said.
“We can get away from all the stuff that has been happening in Australia over the past month or so and it’s exciting.
“We visit the best cities in the world and we’re fortunate enough to play against the best teams in the world at the greatest stadiums in front of some of the most hostile crowds.
“That’s an experience that you can’t get anywhere else.
“So we’ve got five weeks to really get to know each other and have a good time.
“We can get away, gel and become real tight.”
Foley is Australia’s incumbent No.10 and famously slotted the last-minute penalty goal to secure Cheika and his NSW Waratahs their historic first Super Rugby title this year, but said no one should expect any leg-ups under the Wallabies’ hard-nosed new coach.
“One thing Cheik’s always made known is that you don’t just rest on your laurels or credentials or past reputations,” Foley said.
“He’s going to push everyone forward and the whole squad and everyone’s going to have to work for their positions.”
SPRING TOUR SCHEDULE
Nov 1: Wallabies v Barbarians, Twickenham Stadium, London
Nov 8: Wallabies v Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Nov 15: Wallabies v France, Stade de France, Paris
Nov 22: Wallabies v Ireland, AVIVA Stadium, Dublin
Nov 29: Wallabies v England, Twickenham Stadium, London
WALLABIES SQUAD
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander, Sam Carter, Quade Cooper, Tom English, Saia Fainga’a, Tetera Faulkner, Israel Folau, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, Kyle Godwin, James Hanson, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Michael Hooper (capt), Rob Horne, James Horwill, Luke Jones, Sekope Kepu, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Leali’ifano, Josh Mann-Rea, Ben McCalman, Sean McMahon, Nick Phipps, Benn Robinson, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Henry Speight, Joe Tomane, Matt Toomua, Nic White.
