Following an impressive season which saw Sam Warburton led Wales to a World Cup semi-final and a third Grand Slam in eight campaigns, the Dragons take on the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, before a three-match tour of Australia.
Rob Howley will lead Wales in the summer matches, due to Warren Gatland’s injury absence, and McBryde reckons Wales can build on their recent success.
“Momentum has been behind us since the World Cup, and we managed to keep that going through the Six Nations, so I suppose everyone is waiting to see how we are going to react to that first loss we have as a group. Until we suffer that first loss, who knows?
“The players have created their own little bit of history, and they are keen for more. I have seen reports in the papers about it being a long season, but that hasn’t been raised by the players.”
Wales have only beaten Australia once on their own turf, a 19-16 victory in 1969, and have lost twice to the Wallabies in the last season.
But McBryde has revealed preparations are all going to plan despite Gatland’s absence and reckons Wales can create history Down Under.
“The boys are preparing well. The players have come in and given their all.
“There is a huge carrot out there, to go down to Australia and hopefully win a series.
“If we win one of the games, it is something we haven’t been able to down there for a number of years. We have got three bites of the cherry.”
Much has been made of the Wallabies perceived weakness up front but McBryde, who won 37-caps in the Welsh front-row, insists that is no longer the case.
“They have been very strong in the set-piece for a number of years now,” added McBryde.
“The scrum is an area of the game Australia have worked very hard on, and they have gradually got better and better. They are well led by Stephen Moore, who is one of the best hookers in the world, in my opinion.”Â
