Wallabies captain James Slipper stressed Friday the importance of following up their Sydney victory over Wales with another win in Melbourne to start building consistency under new coach Joe Schmidt.
The hosts battled to a gutsy 25-16 triumph last weekend to get the New Zealander’s reign off to a flying start and inflict an eighth-straight Test defeat on Warren Gatland’s struggling side.
Slipper, elevated to captain with Liam Wright out injured, said he expected an even better performance on Saturday.
“We want to be winning games,” said the veteran prop, who will be making his 136th appearance and 15th with the armband.
“The good teams are consistent throughout their performances, and that’s what we’re aiming to do.
“Coming off a pretty lean year last year and a new group of players, new staff, we just really wanted to put in a performance that we were proud of.
“The challenge for us now is to replicate that.”
A victory would mark their first back-to-back wins since 2021 and emphatically farewell the chaotic tenure of Eddie Jones, when they won just two from nine Tests.
Slipper, who will pack down again in the front row with Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou, said confidence was high.
“Confidence is probably the most accurate word to use,” he said.
“We were happy with aspects of it (last weekend), but we could be better and Joe was pretty hard on us this week getting that right.
“By no means are we going to be perfect this week either, we just want to make sure our performance is better than the last one.”
Wright’s absence is the only Australian change, with Rob Valetini pushed to blindside flanker to replace him and Charlie Cale elevated for a starting debut at No. 8.
Wales head into game under mounting pressure, without a Test win since beating minnows Georgia in the pool stages of the 2023 World Cup.
But skipper Dewi Lake remains optimistic they can end the drought.
“What this group needs is a win just to kickstart that run of form,” he said.
“Winning is a habit, so as soon as we get that first one under our belts, you never know what can happen.”
They will be without influential No. 8 Aaron Wainwright and young winger Josh Hathaway, who were both injured in Sydney.
Taine Plumtree will move to No. 8 with James Botham, grandson of England cricket great Ian Botham, coming into the starting line-up at blindside flanker and Tommy Reffell at openside.
Cameron Winnett will start at full-back, with Liam Williams moving to the wing in place of Hathaway alongside Rio Dyer.
“They’re a proud rugby nation and they are going to be wanting to get a result and preparing hard all week,” said Slipper. “We’re expecting a pretty tough game.”
