Wales have lost on eight consecutive occasions to the Wallabies since 2008, the last three defeats coming in the last minute and all under Warburton’s captaincy.
The agony has been every bit as great as the ecstasy of the Lions or Wales’ back-to-back Six Nations titles.
“It would be up there with anything I have had as Welsh captain, among the very top two or three games, and especially with it being at home,†said Warburton.
“I have been captain for some desperate losses against Australia, some of the toughest defeats I have ever had.
“Recent history shows how hard it is. But you trust everyone in your starting XV to have the ability, skill, talent and motivation to take this on. For us this is also about making sure that, emotionally, we are in exactly the right place when it comes to the game.
“It’s something that has always annoyed me when people say, ‘It’s OK, you are underdogs’. Because that’s a load of rubbish. But Wales will be underdogs again this time because of our record in these fixtures. It would mean a massive amount to me to beat Australia.â€
Warburton gives a dusty response to any attempt to put the Lions tour into the context of tomorrow’s Cardiff match, or to wonder whether his injury absence for the decisive third Test in Sydney gives him “unfinished business†against these perennial opponents.
The 25-year-old skipper is more bothered about eventually bringing Wales to the 2015 World Cup in a position where they – no less than his Lions – have learnt how to beat Australia, since they will be in the same pool. So will England.
“This has nothing to do with the Lions. It’s Wales. And this feels completely new, a clean slate,†he said. “We want to put the Welsh record straight. The Lions are done. I am not a player who wants to live in the past. I want to look forward.
Article source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/debateni/blogs/ireland-rugby-world-cup-bid-lets-not-kick-once-in-lifetime-chance-into-touch-29781297.html
Sam Warburton: Now watch Wales make history
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