The new-era Wallabies are refusing to make any bold promises or predictions as they embrace the challenge of only the third grand slam tour in 40 years.
Featuring four uncapped players including the code-hopping Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, the Wallabies jet off to the UK on Thursday for Tests against England, Wales, Scotland and the top-ranked Irish.
It is a daunting schedule and one that has only been presented to the Wallabies twice since 1984, when Alan Jones’ fabled tourists, inspired by Mark Ella’s try in every Test, beat the four home nations in consecutive weeks to etch their name in Australian sporting folklore.
No Australian side has had the opportunity of a grand slam tour since 2016.
That year, Michael Cheika’s team completed the first half of the grand slam with victories over Wales and Scotland before losing to Ireland and England after defeating France in Paris in between.
In 2009, Robbie Deans’ side opened their quest with an 18-9 triumph over England at Twickenham before a last-gasp Brian O’Driscoll try earned Ireland a 20-20 draw in Dublin to scupper Australia’s hopes of sweeping to a grand slam.
Fifteen years on and Joe Schmidt’s class of 2024 have the rare chance to emulate the 1984 legends.
But, unlike in years past, the current crop of Wallabies are wisely choosing against publicising any grandiose grand slam ambitions.
“I think we’ll take it one game at a time,” Wallabies prop Isaac Kailea said on Monday.
“If we can knock off the first win, then we can look forward to the next one.”
While understated, Kailea, in his first year wearing the gold jumper, says the once-in-a-lifetime chance of making a grand slam tour hasn’t been lost on the 34-man squad.
“It’s a big opportunity,” he said.
Veteran scrum coach Mike Cron, no stranger to big expectations after years working for the All Blacks, was also too savvy to pledge an unbeaten tour.
The 10th-ranked Wallabies open up against England at Twickenham on November 10 and Cron says that is the first big focus for a squad he admits contains players still learning the ropes at international level.
“I do know that these boys are going to be confident enough to go out against anyone and lace the boots up and give it everything they’ve got,” Cron said.
“And I’m very confident that they’ll be competitive and we’ll find out if they’ve got enough or not good enough – but they’ll be ready.
“We’ll be coaching them to be ready and they’re confident enough to go out there and put their best foot forward.
“I guarantee you that.”
Grand slam tour schedule (all times AEDT):
Wallabies v England, Twickenham, London, Nov 10, 2.10am
Wallabies v Wales, Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Nov 18, 3.10am
Wallabies v Scotland, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Nov 25, 12.40am
Wallabies v Ireland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Dec 1, 12:40am
