Wallabies push for consistency after win over England with Argentinian flop firmly in their mind

The Wallabies’ win over England was epic but recent memories of a second-up hammering are front of mind as they look to keep their grand slam quest alive.

The Wallabies need to back up their win over England against Wales. Picture: Geronimo Uranga / AFP

One win does not make the UK tour a success and having experienced an epic fail against Argentina the week after a big away win, Wallabies playmaker Tate McDermott says “repeatability” is major focus ahead of this weekend’s clash with Wales.

Taking down England at Twickenham last weekend has opened the door for coach Joe Schmidt’s side to achieve something a Wallabies team hasn’t done for 40 years and win the grand slam with matches against Scotland and Ireland to follow.

Wales is enduring a horror 12-game losing streak, two of those defeats at the hands of the Wallabies earlier this year, ensuring the tourists go into the match as raging favourites.

But McDermott said a “flashback” to the tour of Argentina had given the Wallabies a clear reminder of their past inconsistency.

Tate McDermott says the Wallabies must back up their performance against England. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images

After sneaking over the line for a one-point win over the Pumas in their opening match of that tour in September, the Wallabies were smashed 67-27 the following week.

That’s fresh in the minds of everyone in Wallabies camp, with no capacity to take their foot off the pedal.

“The group in general has a feeling that repeatability is the biggest thing for us to move forward and we’ve got to make sure (of that),” McDermott said.

“We’ve had a couple of good wins this year – flashback to Argentina where we knocked them off in the first game and a week later we’re a completely different team.

“Backing up the performance against the English is crucial for us.

“It’s a fresh page and while last week was a great moment, it’s irrelevant because we’ve got a fierce Welsh team in our face and we’ve got to make sure we’re ready for them.”

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Despite taking down England, the 42-37 scoreline indicated the Wallabies would still need to significantly improve their defence to handle a Welsh side under pressure to perform in front of what looms as a raucous home crowd in Cardiff.

“We know that we conceded far too many points and quite often in Test matches, if you concede 37 points, you don’t win the game,” said the No.9, who came off the bench against England.

“We were skilful and composed enough in the end to get the win against England, but we know that the Welsh are going to be looking at how England scored those points and we’ve got to make sure we plug those holes pretty quickly.

“You’re always wary of a Welsh side, as you know on their day what they’re going to bring regardless of how they’re going.”

Schmidt will need to make at least two chances to his starting line-up for the clash after losing winger Dylan Pietsch to a calf injury and No.8 and captain Harry Wilson to concussion.