Australian rugby is “back on the tracks” before the visit of the British and Irish Lions in the summer, says Wallaby captain Harry Wilson.
The sport down under has endured a turbulent period on and off the field, but Australia ended last year with an encouraging European tour, including a famous win over England.
As he prepares for the start of the Super Rugby season with Queensland Reds, number eight Wilson says the feel-good factor is returning.
“There is a lot of confidence back in the game and I think the rugby public back home can see we are heading in the right direction,” he told BBC Sport.
“After 2023 when rugby in Australia wasn’t in the best space, I feel as if last year we got it back on the tracks and heading in the right direction.”
Wilson is in the UK on a pre-season tour with the Reds, with games against Bristol on Friday and Ulster next month.
He says everyone involved in the Australian set-up will be keeping a close eye on the Six Nations given the proximity of the Lions tour.
“I can’t wait to watch it – I love watching my rugby,” he added. “Knowing that we could be facing the best players from it in six months is definitely something we will all keep an eye on. It is an awesome competition to watch, too.”
After a dismal 2024 Rugby Championship which brought a solitary win from six matches, Joe Schimdt’s side pulled off a famous heist against England at Allianz Stadium in November, a result which has given the group confidence.
“That was obviously massive for us,” he added. “We had a tough Rugby Championship, but felt we actually played some pretty good footy in most of those games. In rugby you need an 80-minute performance, but we didn’t do that at all.
“That England game was really special for us. It definitely gave us that belief.
“We have such an opportunity this year in Super Rugby and in the Wallaby jersey to keep improving, and with the Lions tour just around the corner it is only going to make people want to play even better in Super Rugby and put themselves in the position to play [against the Lions].”
