The classic ’80s banger that sums up the 2025 Wallabies

It’s a 1980s banger more likely to be found on their parents’ Spotify playlists, but the stadium DJ dropped the perfect theme song for the Wallabies after they’d done their thing and won in the 86th minute in Townsville.

As try-scorer Angus Bell was still getting back slaps from teammates, Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey blared out – and it was a perfect choice. So perfect, in fact, you wonder if it wasn’t already queued up, ready to roll if the Wallabies pulled another win from the jaws of defeat.

The Wallabies are far from a finished product, with many parts of their game still needing tubs of polish before they can become a top-five side.

But belief is not one of those parts. After occasional sightings last year, the Wallabies’ unrelenting faith in their ability not just to compete against any opponent, but to win has been unmistakeable this season.

It was there in the Lions series, when the world thought they’d get thumped. And it was there in South Africa, where the world also thought they’d get thumped. But they were almost free-hit displays, with nothing to lose. The trickier days are when you are playing at home and favourites to win.

And in the two Wallabies Tests that fitted that bill this year – against Fiji and Argentina – they played their two worst games. Both could easily have ended in defeat, but the Wallabies still won the Tests, via tries at the death.

In both, the Wallabies had fallen behind, via sloppy, ill-disciplined footy. In recent Wallabies history, that would have been enough to see panic and doubt fuel the bin fire, and losses follow.

But in Newcastle and Townsville, they had the composure to find a route to victory.

Leadership plays a big part in that, and it’s no coincidence that Harry Wilson was in the middle of both wins; scoring the winning try against Fjii, and repeatedly turning down an easy draw in Townsville to chase victory.

The calm work of quieter leaders around him, such as James O’Connor and Fraser McReight, can’t be underestimated. Both were advising “corner” to their excitable skipper in Townsville.

But Wilson’s call to reject a certain draw and risk a loss in pursuit of a win was all about a shared belief that the risk level was low. A try was not only possible but, under their go-to game plan of efficient recycling until they get an advantage, likely.

The best part for the Wallabies and their fans is that after wins like that, belief becomes a compounding element. It leads to more wins and more belief, and that elusive habit of winning.

Wilson is an old-school Brissie bloke who might even have Don’t Stop Believin’ on a playlist somewhere. He may even know some lyrics: “Workin’ hard to get my fill, everybody wants a thrill, payin’ anything to roll the dice, just one more time.

“Some’ll win, some will lose, some are born to sing the blues, whoa, the movie never ends, it goes on and on and on and on.”

Preach, Journey.

A Rocky road

Joe Schmidt would prefer the Wallabies’ belief didn’t manifest itself by hanging tough and coming from behind.

A bit like a Rocky movie, rising from the canvas and fighting back in late rounds has almost become a trademark of the Schmidt Wallabies.

Last year they trailed England 15-3 early before winning at Twickenham, and wins this year over Fiji, South Africa and Argentina also came after falling behind. There were also narrow losses after rallying from deficits against New Zealand, Ireland, the Lions in Brisbane and the Boks in Cape Town.

Schmidt said on Saturday that he’s always proud to see it, but he’d rather they didn’t fall behind in the first place.

The conundrum is that the Wallabies aren’t hugely impressive front-runners, either. The record loss to the Pumas last year, and the agony of the second Lions Test in Melbourne, came after the jittery Wallabies gave up big leads.

The morale of the story? For now at least, Wallabies fans, buckle up and get used to the “nervous 70s”.

Luminous Lenny

Many Wallabies are enjoying their best years in gold: Nick Frost, Fraser McReight, Billy Pollard and Max Jorgensen among them.

But Lenny Ikitau is arguably at the top of the list, and even more impressively, he’s doing it in a position he doesn’t even like that much.

Ikitau made his name as a space-chasing No.13 in Test rugby, but having shifted to No.12 to allow Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to have the wider role, Ikitau has transformed his game into a tight-quarters weapon. His capacity to take repeated carries into heavy defence, and use footwork and spin moves to get past the gain line, has got otherwise static attack rolling for the Wallabies.

Ikitau’s ball-playing is an undervalued asset, too. He often plays first receiver with the No.10 in a wave behind him, and his threat at the line scares defences. After laying on Suaalii’s first try, Ikitau’s danger was a big reason why Bell scored the winning try. Ikitau went to last ruck as a stand-in halfback and as he popped out with eyes for the line, he caused first defender, Ignacio Ruiz, to look at him and bite in.

As seen with the Flickitau pass in London last year, Ikitau then threw a no-look pass to find Bell, who now had half a gap.

It was more than enough.

Watch all the action from the 2025 Rugby Championship on Stan Sport.