The dust has barely settled from a gruelling British and Irish Lions series, but now the Wallabies are preparing for 11 Tests that could define the future of the code in this country. In December, the 2027 World Cup draw will take place, and every Wallabies Test from now until then carries vital ranking points that can be won or lost. The Matildas run to the semi-finals in the 2023 World Cup showed the effect of raucous home support, and the Wallabies have the opportunity to tap into a similar energy. But it relies largely on plotting a safer route to the knockout stages. Chief executive of World Rugby Alan Gilpin is keenly aware of the need for the Wallabies to be competitive in their home World Cup and spoke about backing Australia at the MCG in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions. “It’s a bit of a strange feeling as an Englishman sat in the crowd on Saturday, cheering for the Wallabies for the whole game, which was fun, there a couple of Lions fans in front of me looking a bit strangely at me a few moments,” Gilpin said.