On the first day of a Wallabies training camp last month, players sat at NSW Rugby headquarters and watched clips of their giant-killing feats against the Lions and Springboks.
The goal was to help re-ignite the belief needed to take on a very challenging trio of opponents in July, which starts with Ireland on Saturday at a sold-out Allianz Stadium.
But if the Wallabies really wanted to get a strong shot of confidence, they might consider recruiting a familiar face to be their hype man: Ireland coach Andy Farrell.
As both the head coach of the British and Irish Lions and Ireland, no-one has coached against the Joe Schmidt-led Wallabies more over the last two years than Farrell. In five Tests against his former boss, Farrell has the upper hand with a 4-1 record, but two of the victories were by three points, and another was by eight.
Only last yearโs clash in November was a blow-out, with Ireland winning 46-19. But ahead of Saturdayโs clash in Sydney – round six of Schmidt v Farrell – neither side is keen to place too much stock in the spring tour thrashing.
Having coached against the Wallabies in the enthralling Lions series just a few months earlier – and arguably been lucky to secure the series win in the second Test – Farrell said on Thursday he still regards the world No.8 Australian team as dangerous and capable of beating Ireland (ranked three).
โNot much at all, really,โ Farrell said, when asked about the relevance of the Wallabiesโ form in November. โThe side that theyโve picked shows that theyโve certainly got the personnel to be able to start their season particularly well. Theyโve got some good athletes all over the field.โ
Farrell was just warming up. He added that he stood by his statement after the Wallabiesโ win over the Lions in Sydney that Australia would be a โforce to be reckoned withโ at the 2027 World Cup.
โHave a look at the cattle that theyโve got. Youโve got some superb rugby players,โ he said.
โYou look at the centres and the edges that theyโve got, and the back row and the people that theyโve got coming off the bench, and the people that theyโve got out injured, etc.
โTheyโre building nicely, thatโs for sure. The Lionsโ tour obviously meant an awful lot to them. You saw the fruits of that by going to Joโburg (against South Africa) and winning. You see the capability of the side. I read some reports this week that if they get it right, they can beat anyone in world rugby. I would agree with that.โ
Having learned at the feet of sensei Schmidt, Farrell is no stranger to tactical flattery; a dark art used by coaches to try and claim underdog status. Just an hour earlier, Schmidt was across town listing Irish stars and saying how mightily impressive theyโd been in their recent club finals.
But Farrellโs hype may end up being far more help than hindrance to the Wallabies, who recently gathered with a confusing jumble of emotions from 2025.
Mid-way through last year, the Wallabiesโ belief levels were high, having taken the Lions to the wire and claimed a third Test win, and then beaten the world champion Springboks in Johannesburg. A week later they went very close to winning in Cape Town, too, and an extra-time win over the underrated Pumas followed at home.
But then the Wallabies went 1-8, with a solitary win over Japan and losses to Argentina, New Zealand (twice), England, Italy, Ireland and France. A year containing soaring highs somehow ended with a winless tour and the pain of a record 10 defeats. Their belief levels were battered.
So when the team gathered in camp in Sydney, a video review session provided a timely chance to re-inject confidence, said senior forward Rob Valetini.
โIt was probably on our first day back, we saw clips of last year and the way that we were playing footy, and I guess they were showing us that when weโre able to play our footy, weโre able to beat quality sides,โ he said.
โI felt like we sort of flushed that [spring tour] when we were in the hub. The boys are refreshed and the vibes within the team are pretty high so far.
โWhen weโre able to play our game and beat the Lions and beat a team like South Africa in South Africa, thereโs a lot of confidence within our team. The beliefโs been there and, itโs always been there. Itโs just a matter of putting it out on the field.โ
Schmidt agreed, saying: โI believe the belief is here, and I even believe itโs well-founded. There are some really good players in that group, and thereโs some bloody good men. So when you get that combination, youโd like to think that they can come together and put in a really good performance.โ
Iain Payten is a senior sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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