Australia arrive in Cardiff today buoyed by their injury-time 26-24 triumph over the All Blacks on the weekend.
Having trailed 24-12 late on, the Wallabies’ 10-match losing streak to New Zealand looked set to continue.
But with the final play of the match James O’Connor broke New Zealand hearts by converting his own try to seal an historic win.
And Adam Ashley-Cooper, who grabbed the second of Australia’s four tries, is now setting his sights on an unbeaten tour, starting with victory against Wales in five days time.
“There’s four massive hurdles to come,” said Ashley-Cooper.
“We haven’t spoken about an unbeaten tour but it’s probably in the back of a lot of guys’ minds. It’s certainly in the back of mine.
“It’s important that you just take it Test by Test and we’ve got two midweek matches as well so there’s still six games to go.
“Our next hurdle’s Wales and I think we’ve got to focus purely on that and then the result will take care of itself.”
Ashley-Cooper reckons his side’s landmark triumph in Hong Kong will mean the Wallabies can start to believe they can beat anyone in any situation.
“It’s a big step,” added Ashley-Cooper.
“We’re making progress each game, we’re taking little steps and that was a step we needed to take and one we all believed that we could make.
“It’s important not to get too caught up with that. But it has created a lot of confidence and belief and momentum for the start of the tour.
“It’s certainly going to do us the world of good knowing next time we approach the All Blacks it’s next year in a World Cup year.
“So it’s done a lot for us, the monkey’s off our back and we’re back to even.”
Memories of last year’s failed grand slam tour is also in the back of some minds, however.
The Wallabies beat Wales in Cardiff and England at Twickenham but lost to Scotland at Murrayfield and drew with Ireland in Dublin.
Much was made of that frustrating return but Ashley-Cooper insists the Wallabies have already moved on and are a fare better side this time around.
“It would be nice to correct that but that’s behind us now. It was such a disappointing tour and everyone was pretty upset by it but I think it’s important just to look forward at what’s ahead and don’t reflect too much on the past.
“We can’t afford to create any doubt now, we’ve got our momentum and the mood’s really good.”
And Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is expecting a fired up Welsh outfit when the two sides meet on Saturday.
“They’ll be smarting from our last visit there,” Deans said. “They’ll have us in their sights.
“They’ll be lying in wait, first outing of their international season, excited as hell.”
Tickets for all four Invesco Perpetual Tests against Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand are available in Thomas Cook and Going Places stores around Wales and the UK.
Tickets are also available online by clicking here by phoning 08442 777888 or by calling into the WRU’s cafe/store, The Cardiff Arms, 8 Westgate Street, Cardiff.
