The Wallabies play three Tests in July. They must win two to show progress

June 27, 2026 — 9:30am

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The assessment of Wallabies assistant coach Laurie Fisher that Australian teams have a tendency to “blow hot and cold” was damning but accurately set the scene before their Nations Championship Tests against Ireland, France and Italy.

A hot Wallabies side could win two of those Tests, possibly all three, and the cold Wallabies could go 0-3.

Two out of three would be more hot than cold, and also enough to suggest they are moving in the right direction when it comes to consistency.

A clean sweep would exceed expectations, as those expectations need to be revised. Media reports out of France suggest that Les Bleus are indeed going to send a strong team including Antoine Dupont for the Test against the Wallabies, as per Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh’s assertion.

Waugh’s claims looked optimistic based on France’s years-long practice of sending weakened squads, but he was right. If Dupont and some other Toulousains........

© The Sydney Morning Herald