Matt Toomua says the onus is squarely on the Wallabies to win back disillusioned fans and inspire a whole new generation of Australian rugby players.
Toomua missed seeing the All Blacks' first-half massacre of the Wallabies in last year's Bledisloe Cup series opener while on a driver education course for running a red light.
Now the 33-Test playmaker is pleading with Michael Cheika for a chance to help put the brakes on the All Blacks on Saturday night after 16 straight years of Bledisloe despair for Australia.
In the middle of a two-year stint in the English Premiership, Toomua recalls being as forlorn as any Wallabies fan when he tuned in to see the men in gold trailing 40-6 at halftime, then 54-6 not long after, in the 2017 opener at ANZ Stadium.
"It was horrible," the midfielder said ahead of Thursday's team naming when he hopes coach Cheika will pick him on the bench as back-up for chief playmakers Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale.
"That wasn't a great night for a lot of people. The year before wasn't either, so we've got a little bit to play for.
"I think we owe the Sydney crowd something as well."
But, a bit like himself in traffic now he's completed his road manners course, Toomua believes the Wallabies are a far more educated lot after fighting back to almost win game two last year before taking game three.
And after almost two decades of heartache for Australian fans, Toomua says it's time the Wallabies delivered for their diehard and success-starved supporters.
"Every year you are told what has happened since the last time we won it. Doesn't help," he said.
"I remember as a kid seeing John Eales kick that (winning) goal and Toutai (Kefu) scoring under the posts.
"They were inspirational moments for kids, motivational moments for a lot of kids like myself, and it's up to us to provide a few of those moments for the good of the game in Australian rugby, to get a few kids excited about playing for Australia.
"So it's a huge responsibility for us but a huge opportunity as well, something to get excited about."