Shrewd Junior Wallabies captain Fraser McReight knows how much is on the line for rugby in Australia when his team takes on France in the world U20 championship final.
Australia is searching for its first win in the tournament after making the decider for the first time since 2010.
McReight has had an outstanding championship at openside flanker, becoming one of four nominees for breakout player of the tournament.
He and his teammates have worked slavishly to forge an unbreakable bond that has them within an ace of the biggest achievement of their fledgling careers.
But the youngsters are aware of what a win would mean to the sport as a whole, as well as just the players.
"I think (success) is very important for the game and after the rough 12 months Australian rugby's had on the field and off the field, it's very, very important and hopefully the fans see that," McReight said.
"I think it's been a long course of development through the junior ranks and it's just a matter of getting the right players and right coaches in and I think we've found that and hopefully we can progress through the ranks again."
Australia's young players are leading a turnaround in fortunes.
Four outstanding players have been nominated for the World Rugby U20 Championship Breakthrough Player of the Tournament in association with Tudor. Have your say by voting below!
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 19, 2019
Voting ends on Saturday, 22nd of June at 16.15pm (GMT -3)
A successful UK tour by the Schools and U18 team was followed by the Junior Wallabies' Oceania championship win in which they kept the Kiwis scoreless in the final, a result which provided great confidence for their world championship campaign.
"It's been awesome to see. I think it really shows the development in junior rugby and the junior pathways," McReight said.
"There's a lot of boys in this team that didn't play the Aussie schoolboys, didn't play in any rep teams yet they got picked up and they've played a huge role in this team.
"I think that shows the development in the junior pathways going into U20s and you can see we're slowly starting to creep up in terms of performances on the field.
"Hopefully that translates into Super Rugby down the track and the Wallabies."
Reaction: Fraser McReight spoke to us after Australia booked their place in the final at the #WorldRugbyU20s Championship. It's their first final since Argentina in 2010. pic.twitter.com/em0xZvQ195
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 17, 2019
McReight and his team face a tough challenge against a big French team looking to defend the world title they won last year.
"We love to attack but when we defend, we defend with unreal physicality and we love getting up for each other and love the challenge of coming up against bigger teams," he said.
"I think we rise to the occasion."
It's what McReight knows his band of young players can do as they lead a charge they want to finish as senior Wallabies players in a similar World Cup position.
"We're in this final and you get this funny feeling in your gut, you know, everyone's getting around us," he said.
"It's very special to be a part of a World Cup final - even though it's a junior World Cup.
"I want to have that culture and that winning feeling in an actual Wallabies side and I know that's definitely a goal for myself and I know that's everyone else's goal in the team.
"I think we can turn it around at Super and Wallabies level if we stick in."
The Junior Wallabies take on France in the U20 world championship final in Rosario, Argentina, on Sunday, June 23, kicking off at 4:20am AEST, live on Fox Sports and Kayo.
