The Wallabies feel they’re improving with each Test under new coach Ewen McKenzie but are still to deliver on their potential, says forward Ben Mowen.
The Australians face South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday desperate to add to their lone Rugby Championship victory over Argentina.
They have skipper lock James Horwill back from an hamstring injury after he missed their last two Tests including their gutsy 14-13 win over the Pumas in Perth.
The Wallabies feel that self-belief in the squad is on the rise; something they will need in spades to upset the Springboks in Cape Town where the visitors haven’t won since 1992.
South Africa also trounced the Australians 38-12 in Brisbane in their first meeting.
Mowen, who was captain against Argentina but will hand back the duties to Horwill, said there was still plenty of room for improvement.
“I think that’s there’s a feeling in this group that we haven’t played near our potential yet,” he said.
“Although it’s early on under a new coach, we’re still well off in the areas where we’d like to be but that’s good because the group’s motivated and there’s a really good feeling amongst the players.
“This is a really exciting challenge for us; .a result against the Springboks at Newlands would be huge.”
Winger James O’Connor was dumped from the squad for the two-week tour to South Africa and Argentina after a series of poor off-field behaviour.
The loss of the experienced O’Connor and injury to Nick Cummins is a blow to the visitors’ hopes with other wing options in the squad Joe Tomane (three caps) and Chris Feauai-Sautia and Peter Betham both uncapped.
Adam Ashley-Cooper, who has 84 caps, could be shifted from outside centre to bolster the back three.
Hooker Stephen Moore said it was important his team got off to a strong start to help the confidence of the rookies.
“There’s not hiding from it so you’ve got to embrace it,” Moore said.
“The start of the game’s going to ferocious and there going to be a lot of physical contact that we’ve got to make sure we get on the right side of.
“At the end of the day talk’s cheap, you’ve got to go out there and do it”