Skipper Wilson says Wallabies ready to step up against Lions

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

The Wallabies have won only four of their last 11 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.

"I'd say all of us have to," Wilson said. "The thing with Bobby is he takes the tough carries for us, week in, week out. It's something you don't take for granted, but you just appreciate a bloke who can take on two, three people.

"And I think the whole forward pack has got to really step up, because when you're missing a player like him, it's obviously not ideal, but if everyone just picks up that little 10 per cent, I think it's very exciting."

Wilson plays his provincial rugby with Lynagh at the Queensland Reds and said the 22-year-old had revealed a new side