Wallabies winning back hearts and minds of Australian public with deeds and attitude

And given the 2023 poll was conducted before the Wallabies crashed out of the World Cup, and the 2025 survey came before high-profile wins over the Lions, South Africa at Ellis Park, and the Pumas, the 65 per cent increase was likely greater.

The Wallabies’ increased success under Joe Schmidt, which began in earnest with a famous win over England at Twickenham last year, has not only driven fans to buy tickets to games but also to consume broadcast content at record levels.

The drought-breaking win by the Wallabies over the Boks at Ellis Park was so popular that the mini-match replay became the most-watched “VOD” (video on demand) asset of all time on StanSport. The previous record was held by the Wallabies-England mini-match last year, when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii debuted and Max Jorgensen scored the match-winner.

Herbert said the Wallabies had won back the hearts and minds of the Australian public by showing enormous character during the Lions series, and again in South Africa and Townsville.

“There’s a large group of people out there that have been fans of the game, and want to be again. And they’ve probably been a little bit disenfranchised over the years for various reasons. We knew that the Lions series was a big opportunity to bring people back into the fold,” Herbert said.

“There were people there who are wanting to be re-engaged and just looking for that reason why.

“From the England Test last year at Twickenham, people started to sit up and take notice of this team, and they do have something quite special that’s building. There’s a humility and a desire within that group to do some really good things.”

“Australian rugby and the Wallabies occupy a space that is only able to be [also] occupied by soccer and cricket as true national teams performing on the global stage. They enjoy a very special place within the hearts of a lot of Australians. The team resonates with people.”

Wallabies merchandise was sold out in Townsville on Saturday, and kids were doing impromptu lineouts in the streets after the game.

“A lot of the sentiment is driven out of the performance of that team, and not necessarily just winning as we’ve seen,” Herbert said.

“People want to believe that team’s got a lot of ticker and got a lot of heart, and they’re seeing that. Even if we didn’t get the result on the weekend, I still think people would have been proud of how they came back and how they went for that win on the weekend.”

Wallabies halfback Tate McDermott said the players are “extremely grateful” for the support of Australian fans.

“Obviously, the last couple of years have been tough, from a player’s point of view but also a supporter’s point of view,” McDermott said.

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“But this year’s been unbelievable, the support we’ve had across that Lions series, and that’s rolled into the TRC.

“Another sell-out this weekend, gold jerseys everywhere. I’m really proud to be a Wallaby. It’s great to see so many supporters at the stadiums, regardless of where we’re going. Like at Townsville on the weekend, just to see the gold jerseys up there, and that’s rare. Usually, it’s the Cowboys and that’s it, but there were gold jerseys all across the street. It’ll be more of the same this weekend.”

Watch all the action from the 2025 Rugby Championship on Stan Sport.