New-look Wallabies out to move on from World Cup fiasco

The Wallabies host Wales in Sydney on Saturday in their first Test under Schmidt, anxious to make amends for the humbling and record-breaking 40-6 loss to the same opponents that sent Australia crashing out of last year's World Cup.

Only seven players remain from that diabolical campaign in France but Wright, back in the national side for the first time since 2020, insists the scars remain.

The 26-year-old is confident those survivors can use the ordeal to help the Wallabies rise again from their lowly world No.9 ranking.

"That's one of the things I've been really impressed with," Wright said at Friday's captain's run at Allianz Stadium.

"There's been lots of talk about the World Cup ... it hasn't just been swept under the carpet,"

"It's been a lot of learnings. We've showed a lot of clips from that game; areas that we could have capitalised on but didn't and areas that they capitalised on that we need to be wary of.

"But the boys have really taken it upon themselves not to just hide away, shy from the fact, but to actually learn from it, grow themselves.

"Not only as players but as people, because it was a challenging time."

The moving on officially begins on Saturday and starts with Wright taking firm charge of Schmidt's new-look outfit by walking the walk more than talking the talk.

"I'll just bring a team-first mindset," the hard-nosed blindside flanker said.

"That's all I've ever tried to do when I play for the team and that's all I'm going to try and do.

"I've got plenty of leaders to lean on, plenty of experienced guys in this team. So I'm not going to try and do anything above and beyond.

"I'll just focus on what the team needs and hopefully let my rugby do the talking."

The South African-born back-rower has had to bide his time to add to his five Test caps, with a run of injuries keeping him out of the Wallabies picture for four years.

He confessed to being "fully surprised" by his appointment, which he only learned of during Schmidt's team announcement earlier this week.

"I was pretty nervous Tuesday morning, trying to hopefully be in the 23 and I was privileged to be able to start," Wright said.

"And then I saw the little captain's armband underneath and it was a big surprise.

"A really special moment, not only to be back in Wallaby gold but to be able to lead the boys, it's just been an awesome week."

While his left-field elevation may have raised eyebrows among casual observers, Wright's captaincy came as no shock to his teammates.

Centre Josh Flook, who will make his Test debut against Wales, endorsed the Queensland Reds' co-captain as unquestionably the right man for the job.

"He'll just be everywhere," Flook said.

"He'll lead from the front foot. He'll run around the field. He'll put his head into the dark places where I don't want to put my head.

"He's not a big speaker at all but, when he talks, you listen. He has some very good things to say."

Despite their last-up shellacking of the Wallabies, the 10th-ranked Welsh are big underdogs with bookmakers as they chase a first Test win in Australia since 1969.

Australian Associated Press