Wallabies eye clean sweep

RUGBY UNION RIDING high after a droughtbreaking Bledisloe Cup triumph, the Wallabies are bound for Asia and Europe hoping to complete their first unbeaten spring tour in more than 20 years.

The Wallabies flew out of Sydney last night intent on carrying the momentum from this month’s 23-18 victory over the All Blacks in Brisbane into November Tests against Japan, Wales, England and Scotland.

No Australian team since the Greg Smith-coached Wallabies in 1996 have returned from Europe undefeated after a three or four-Test spring tour. World Cup-winning mentor Rod Macqueen, his successor Eddie Jones and the likes of John Connolly, Robbie Deans, Ewen McKenzie and Michael Cheika have all coached Australian teams that have come unstuck trying to achieve the rare sweep.

But Wallabies captain Michael Hooper firmly believes Cheika’s class of 2017 can accomplish the special feat.

“Obviously to win four and that’s the expectation with this group,” Hooper said.

“It’s a realistic goal for us, of course. The way we’ve been growing, the way we’ve been building – we haven’t lost in quite a few games — so there’s a good amount of belief around the squad.

“So it starts this weekend with a really tough occasion against Japan.”

The Wallabies tackle the Cherry Blossoms in Yokohama on Saturday.

Then it’s Wales at Millennium Stadium, Eddie Jones’ England and Scotland at Murrayfield on successive Saturdays.

While the Wallabies have had the wood over Wales for almost a decade, Hooper’s men will be seeking revenge for four straight losses to England and redemption for a shock loss in Sydney this winter to the Scots.

“We got to play New Zealand a couple of weeks ago, a good test to see what it’s like against their style of rugby, and then to get over to the northern hemisphere to play their style,” said Hooper.

... THERE’S A GOOD AMOUNT OF BELIEF AROUND THE SQUAD AND TRUST IN WHAT WE’RE DOING.

editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost