Leigh Halfpenny wants Wales to prove themselves – Rugby News Update
Leigh Halfpenny, the 23-year-old Cardiff Blues and Wales' fullback, who is equally adept on the wing wants Wales to win in Australia when they tour the southern hemisphere for a three-match test series, starting on June 9.
Halfpenny really wants to carry forward their form from the 2012 Six Nations Grand Slam, and win their first test on Australian soil since 1969. Many generations of Welsh players have returned unsuccessful from Wallaby soil, and Halfpenny wants that to change,
along with the other squad members.
He said, "I have not beaten a southern hemisphere team with Wales. We have come close but not quite got the result. It is something I want to achieve as well as everyone else in the squad."
Halfpenny who started his career with the Ospreys at age-grade level before moving to the Cardiff Blues ahead of the 2007-2008 season, and wants the Welsh team to be taken seriously wherever that they play.
"When the southern hemisphere sides go away they win, and that is what we want to do," said Halfpenny. "We want sides to take us seriously wherever we play them." They will only start to respect us when we beat them in their own back yard.”
Wales will also be buoyed by the return of their mercurial captain, Sam Warburton, who has been out injured for a few months. The national side looks towards their captain for inspiration, and keeping them focussed on the job at hand.
Halfpenny recalls an event during the 2011 Rugby World Cup when Wales defeated Ireland in the quarter-finals, but the team did not go out and celebrate. Instead Warburton put a curfew on all the players to prepare for the semi-final. Sam leads them with
professionalism, on and off the field.
Halfpenny will be looking to add to the 32 caps that he has already earned for Wales during the tour of Australia and further establishing himself in the Welsh team. He made his debut against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium, on November 8, 2008. He
has started 30 games for Wales, and coming on a substitute twice.
It is a big task for Wales to win in Australia but if they manage to beat the Wallabies, they would have etched themselves in history.
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