Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has rallied his troops, refusing to let the British & Irish Lions walk away with a clean sweep, despite a string of injuries and close losses. As the team heads into the third test in Sydney, they're down but not out, with key players sidelined including flanker Rob Valetini, prop Allan Alaalatoa, and wing Harry Potter. The latest blow came with hooker David Porecki's heel injury, ushering Billy Pollard into the starting lineup and Brandon Paenga-Amosa into the squad.
Despite the setbacks, Wilson remains defiant, believing his team can rise above the challenges. "It does take a little bit to get over a tough loss like that [in Melbourne] and for us it was just about going back to our preparation," he explained. Determination shines through as he recounts the team's focus during training: "Everyone was a bit quiet, but once we went across that white line the energy was back. We quickly put the loss on the back burner and just wanted to focus on getting the preparation right."
"We’ve really tried to build it internally because this is still such a massive match."
The stakes are incredibly high, not just for the Wallabies but also for the Lions, with coach Andy Farrell speaking on the considerable weight of finishing strong. "Axing Australia would be tragic," Farrell noted, emphasizing the "massive responsibility" his squad feels.
Wilson is acutely aware of what’s at stake and the narrow margins in the series thus far. "I do feel like it has been a tight series and we want to go out there, we want to get the win. Obviously sitting here at 2-0, it’s not the best situation," he admitted. However, the support from home has been a buffer against the pressure: "The support we’ve been given this week has been pretty unbelievable."
"We really feel like we need to go out there and put a performance in for Australia to be proud. We want them to be truly believing in us and that’s for us to go back-to-back with (big) performances, and we need to go out there and get that win."
With the clock ticking down to game day, the Wallabies are not just playing for a win but for national pride. It’s more than just a game; it’s about proving to their supporters—and perhaps to themselves—that even the wounded can fight back.