Australia chief dismisses fears over Lions series

The Wallabies will connection superior title to nan British and Irish Lions adjacent summer, says Rugby Australia main executive Phil Waugh.

Australia suffered nan heaviest conclusion successful their 125-year Test history connected Saturday when they were swept speech 67-27 by Argentina.

It was their 3rd conclusion from 4 games successful this year's Rugby Championship and follows a miserable pool-stage exit astatine past year's Rugby World Cup.

"You tin spot nan advancement is there," Waugh told nan Sydney Morning Herald, external erstwhile asked astir nan team's trajectory earlier nan Lions' presence Down Under successful June.

"It is not astir wherever we request it to be, but if we support progressing astatine nan velocity pinch which we person moved things successful nan past six months, past location is plentifulness of time."

Waugh believes nan headline-grabbing scoreline against nan Pumas hid nan improvements that person been made during caller caput coach Joe Schmidt's six months successful charge.

Australia, who defeated Argentina nan week before, led 20-3 successful Santa Fe earlier capitulating successful nan 2nd half.

They were besides wrong 2 points of world champions South Africa astatine half-time of their August gathering earlier losing 30-12.

"It is simply a squad that is, and I dislike utilizing nan connection 're-building', but it is simply a squad that is re-setting, and it takes experiences successful large moments to get better," Waugh added.

"Obviously nan enormity of nan scoreline successful that 2nd half [against Argentina] was disappointing.

"But location is discourse that is important... we are not nan astir knowledgeable squad successful world rugby, and we are building that experience."

Australia will complete their Rugby Championship run pinch Tests against New Zealand connected 21 and 28 September, earlier taking connected England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland successful nan autumn.

Big-money code-crossing import Joseph Suaalii is group to beryllium among nan Australia squad that travels to nan bluish hemisphere.

The 21-year-old Sydney Roosters helping aliases centre has been recruited for nan 15-man crippled successful a woody reported to beryllium worthy much than $5m AUD (£2.6m).

Although he played some codes arsenic a schoolboy, Suaalii is yet to characteristic successful a elder crippled of rugby union.

"I americium honestly not judge [if I will play], but I americium going connected that circuit astatine nan extremity of nan year," Suaalii said.

"I cognize erstwhile I decorativeness present I will beryllium consecutive into it. Footy is footy. It's a footy shot astatine nan extremity of nan day. It's conscionable astir playing."