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Wallabies to atone for horror Northern tour
Darren Walton, AAP • June 24th, 2026 6:45 pm
Allan Alaalatoa and the Wallabies are looking to bounce back after a winless European Test tour | Photo: Dave Hunt/AAP
Still smarting seven months on, the Wallabies are intent on wiping the slate clean and starting the year with a bang in a sellout blockbuster against Ireland in Sydney.
Former captain Allan Alaalatoa is among the Wallabies stalwarts who endured the first four-Test winless tour of Europe since 1959 with successive losses to England, Italy, Ireland and France last November.
Alaalatoa remembers the gloomy tour like it was yesterday and admits the motivation to atone on July 4 and set the Wallabies back on the path to World Cup contention on home soil next year is driving the squad.
Former captain Allan Alaalatoa says the Wallabies can be World Cup contenders on home soil | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"We'll definitely look to rectify that, and that all starts with the way we prepare and carrying that through into the game," the veteran prop said on Wednesday.
"With the first game being a sellout, it shows that there's a lot of passion for rugby here in Australia, and it definitely motivates the boys to make sure we do everything we can to put ourselves in the best shape possible to go out there and play with confidence.
"Coming off that spring tour, there's a lot of disappointment within the group."
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