Wallabies get to work ahead of once-in-a-career chance to face the British and Irish Lions

Twelve years in the waiting, the Wallabies will roll their sleeves up and apply the finishing touches to their preparations for the eagerly-awaited series against the British and Irish Lions.

Twelve years in the waiting, the Wallabies will finally roll their sleeves up and get to work on Monday morning to start applying the finishing touches to their preparations for their eagerly-awaited series against the British and Irish Lions.

The scarcity of Lions tours ensures that the 2025 tour, just as 1989, 2001 and 2013 was, marks a once-in-a-lifetime series for the Australian players lucky enough to be involved that well could define their careers.

The stakes are high for both teams, the hard work starts first thing Monday morning after Sunday was a travel day.

Licking their wounds after their narrow loss to Argentina in Dublin on Saturday morning (Australian time), the Lions spent most of the day in the more than 36,000 feet up in the air, flying business class from Ireland to Perth via Doha on a double-decker Qatar Airways A380 jumbo.

They were due to arrive in Western Australia late on Sunday night, six days before they tackle the Western Force at Optus Stadium, with the first Test against the Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt is approaching a tough series against the British and Irish Lions. Picture: AP Photo

The Wallabies are beginning their chores on the other side of the country.

Arriving in much smaller planes, then taxis, the full squad – minus the five Western Force players who stayed back in Perth to play the Lions – assembled at their plush hotel in inner Sydney.

It was a quiet first day and night. After checking in and discovering who their roommates are, the players attended a team meeting, where they heard from the head coach Joe Schmidt, medical staff and team management.

Then it was a team dinner at the hotel and an early lights out before hitting the gym and the training paddock on Monday morning.

Dave Porecki captained the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup in France. Picture: Getty Images

For now, the initial focus for the Wallabies is their warm-up test against Fiji in Newcastle on July 6. While their first port of call is Sydney’s posh eastern suburbs, they’ll relocate by bus to the Steel City on Thursday.

One of the non-negotiable requirements of being part of such a massive event is speaking to the media, and by extension, the rugby public.

The first two players chosen for media duties were hooker Dave Porecki, the former skipper, and winger Corey Toole, one of two uncapped players selected in the 36-man squad for Fiji.

Porecki took over as Wallabies captain when Will Skelton was injured during the 2023 World Cup in France but hasn’t worn the gold jersey since after having his own injury problems then taking time out after his wife had twins.

Wallabies players meet in camp in Sydney. Picture: Rugby Australia

“Last year was difficult for me, missing most of the year,” he said.

“I worked pretty hard and credit to the medical teams for sort of getting it all right. I feel good and the body feels in a good place now and ready to just rip in.

“It’s a different time. A lot has happened since then, that’s a few years ago now.

“It’s a completely new group as well, so that’s the most exciting thing for me, it is a different energy to the one last time I was in.”

Corey Toole played for Australia at the Paris Olympics. Picture: AFP

Porecki said he only watched the back end of the Lions’ warm up match against Argentina but wasn’t reading anything into their defeat.

“I didn’t ever think they were unbeatable.” he said.

“Just thinking realistically on it, it’s their first game together.

“There’s going to be kinks that they’re going to iron out for us and they’re gonna be a much better side when the time comes.”

A former Sevens star who represented Australia at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Toole earned his selection in the squad after starring on the wing for the Brumbies in Super Rugby and said he was desperately hoping for a chance against the Lions.

“Everyone’s had their eye on the next few months since the start of the year so there’s a good buzz and the boys are really excited to rip into training this week and can’t wait,” he said.

“But we’ve got Fiji in a couple of weeks’ time. We’ll kind of just focus on that for the meantime and once that game finishes we’ll turn our attention to the Lions.”

Originally published as Wallabies get to work ahead of once-in-a-career chance to face the British and Irish Lions