Wales take on Australia tomorrow afternoon looking for their first win over the Wallabies since 2008 following victories over Argentina and Samoa earlier this month.
Warren Gatland’s side have plenty of recent history with Australia, now under the tutelage of former Queensland Reds boss Ewen McKenzie.
Halfpenny and a number of the Welsh squad were on the successful British & Irish Lions tour to Australia led by Warren Gatland and captain Sam Warburton but over the last 12 months, the Wallabies have registered four straight wins over Wales, albeit by narrow margins.
Cardiff Blues full back Halfpenny was named player of the Lions tour over the summer and wants to end this autumn campaign with a similar success.
“For the team it’s massive we finish with a win against Australia,” said the Gorseinon product.
“With Wales, we’ve been close many times now and it’s been hugely frustrating. At times we’ve come off thinking we’ve played the better rugby but have come up short.
“We need to go to the next level now by beating these southern hemisphere teams and the likes of Australia.”
Wales’ summer tour of Australia in 2012 saw the visitors go down to a 3-0 series defeat and Halfpenny says the pain of that loss will drive him and the team on tomorrow.
“We were devastated – when we came off the pitch after the second and third Tests, we felt like we should have won,” he added.
“We didn’t manage to see those games out and lost by a point or two. This time last year we lost at home in the last few seconds and that was gutting.
“At the end of the day you’re pulling on the Welsh jersey and a lot of emotion comes with that anyway. You’re doing what you love to do and every time you pull that on it’s an incredible feeling. You want to bring out that emotion in your performance and that’s what we need to do on Saturday.
“When you win an international match it’s an amazing feeling. A lot of us experienced beating Australia in the summer and a win on Saturday would feel just as amazing as it did then.”
A victory on Saturday would complete another memorable week for Halfpenny who has been named on the shortlist for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
“I was understandably delighted when I found out I had been nominated,” he said.
“It’s a huge honour and to be alongside the names that have been nominated, it’s a great privilege as they’ve all had fantastic years.
“I wouldn’t have been able to be nominated if it wasn’t for my teammates or my coaches who I work with every day for club and country and my family and friends – the support they’ve shown me has been fantastic. It’s a huge thank you to them.”
