Australian captain Harry Wilson has stated that the Wallabies have moved on from last week’s defeat in Melbourne and are ready to stop the British & Irish Lions from securing a series victory in front of a full 83,000-seat crowd in Sydney on Saturday.
However, the team has faced setbacks with late injuries to hooker David Porecki and backup Matt Faessler during training, just after the lineup for the third Test was confirmed. An urgent call has been made to bring in Brandon Paenga-Amosa as reinforcement.
Billy Pollard will step up from the bench to the starting lineup, while Paenga-Amosa, known among teammates as “BPA,” gets another opportunity against the Lions after facing them three times before, including with the AUNZ Invitational XV and the First Nations & Pasifika side.
Wilson expressed disappointment over losing Porecki and Faessler but praised Paenga-Amosa’s quick adjustment, noting his recent experience with the national team.
“He’s been around the squad for over a year, and he’s already played the Lions three times, so he’s prepared,” Wilson said.
The Wallabies captain acknowledged the tough week following their last defeat but said the team regrouped on Tuesday.
“On Tuesday, I was really proud of the group’s effort in training. Everyone started quiet, but once we got on the field, the energy returned,” he said. “We’ve had a strong buildup, and now we’re ready.”
Flanker Carlo Tizzano has been left out of the squad due to soreness from last week’s match. He has faced criticism online after some fans accused him of exaggerating contact to influence refereeing decisions in the second Test.
Wilson said Tizzano had a difficult week and condemned the unfair treatment he received.
“It’s probably best for him to step away, recover, and focus on playing again,” Wilson said. “This series brings a lot of attention, and unfortunately, some people have targeted him unfairly.”
With the Wallabies at risk of their first series whitewash against the Lions in 121 years, Wilson said the team remains motivated but recognizes the challenge ahead.
“We want to perform well and make our country proud,” he said.
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