Skipper Wilson says Wallabies ready to step up against Lions in first Test

Australia captain Harry Wilson said the Wallabies were confident of beating the British and Irish Lions in the first Test at Lang Park on Saturday despite being heavy underdogs after losing a couple of key players to injury.

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The Wallabies have won only four of their last II Tests and on Saturday will be without regular flyhalf Noah Lolesio and their best Test player of the last two years, loose forward Rob Valetini.

Wilson expressed confidence in their replacements, debutant flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny and playmaker Tom Lynagh, and said the whole team were ready to stand up and be counted in front of a sellout crowd.

“We're very confident,” the number eight told reporters at Lang Park on Friday.

“We've had a really good week preparation. We've done everything we've wanted to do, and we feel like we're in a really good place.

“The only thing we can control is what we've done during the week and what we're going to go out there and do tomorrow night.”

Coach Joe Schmidt said on Thursday that Wilson would have to carry more ball on Saturday but his captain thought everyone in the pack would need to fill the void left by Valetini against a big Lions pack.