Rugby internationals: Wallabies vs Fiji, Tom Wright on 2023 World Cup loss

Tom Wright wasn’t there when the Wallabies slumped to a shock World Cup loss to Fiji two years ago. Is revenge on the cards or is there a bigger goal? The fullback opens up.

He was controversially left out of the squad two years ago, so Tom Wright wasn’t there when the Wallabies suffered two of the worst defeats in their history at the 2023 World Cup, including a 22-15 loss to Fiji.

Back in the green and gold now though, the classy fullback says there are no lingering emotional scars from that upset, as the Wallabies prepare to play Fiji in Newcastle next weekend.

Australia will play a rare Test at McDonald Jones Stadium in the first meeting between the sides since the French disaster, and in preparation for the British and Irish Lions tour.

The Wallabies will play Fiji for the first time since their World Cup disaster.

That excruciating seven-point loss at St Etienne spelled the beginning of the end of Eddie Jones’ tumultuous tenure, before a 40-6 belting by Wales a week later all but confirmed it.

Wright preferred to focus on next weekend’s first Test of the year rather than dwell on the past after training in Newcastle on Friday.

“It hasn’t been mentioned (as) being an avenging game, but our first hitout is going to be super exciting,” Wright said.

“The talent the Fijians have got — we see it in Super Rugby with the Drua – and to drip feed in that European talent they’ve got, what a challenge for us.”

Fijian players celebrate their World Cup boilover.

Tom Wright is confident there’ll be no mental scarring from the Fijian loss.

Despite being snubbed by Jones, Wright re-signed with the Brumbies and Rugby Australia and has since become one of the first names Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt writes on the team sheet.

Having missed out on the opportunity to play in a World Cup though, he has no doubt the Lions Tour will be the highlight of his career.

“The Lions tour is probably second to none in terms of that 12-year gap,” he said.

“You get a lick and it goes away for 12 years.

“Someone like Slip (James Slipper) he’s someone I can get a little bit of advice around it. We’ve seen some of that dribble into Perth over the last couple of days.

“It’s probably bolted in there at number one in terms of the spectacle and how exciting is.”

Rob Valetini of Australia is tackled by Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.

Wright can also lean on former Brumbies teammates, who claimed a 14-12 boilover win against the Lions 12 years ago.

“I was pretty lucky to cross paths with some of them,” he said.

“I played with K-Train – Tevita Kuridrani – he had a pretty decent night out that evening and I played with him down at the Brumbies.

“He’s a man of not many words, but when he reflected on that game, he mentioned how cool the opportunity it was, and the crowd that rolled into Canberra when it’s freezing, it was second to none.”

Originally published as Rugby internationals: Wallabies vs Fiji, Tom Wright on 2023 World Cup loss