News

Preview: Wales v Australia

November 28 2008

Wales welcome Australia to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, but don't expect a warm reception on the pitch as Wales look to end their Test series on a high.

But for several key factors, Wales could be lining up on Saturday looking for a fourth win in November, as it is they need this result to save some face and boost confidence before they prepare to defend their Six Nations crown in a little under two months' time.

Against South Africa, the game, with under five minutes to go, was there for the taking, only for Wales to butcher their chance in spectacular fashion. Then against New Zealand, the world's premier side at present, they produced a stunning first half only to waste a fine position after the break by allowing New Zealand to dominate in all facets of the game.

So can they put it all together this week and take out Robbie Deans' Wallabies for the second time inside three years? The simple answer is yes, but then nothing is ever simple with Wales - a side who have claimed two Grand Slams since 2005, after waiting well over twenty years since their last one.

I know New Zealand turned on the style in the second half last week, but it still doesn't sit right that Wales could be so brilliant and then so average in the space of eighty minutes. There is no doubt they have the talent, it just seems they lack the belief that is required to win the big games.

Warren Gatland, when he started his job as Wales coach, talked of turning Wales into a world force. Well Mr. Gatland, to be a world force you need to beat the top sides on a regular basis, not lose three games on the bounce to them.

If we take it further than that, Wales have, in the last ten years managed just two wins over the 'Big Three' from down south, with a draw thrown in for good measure. One thing is for certain, it can't get much worse for them.

In their opponents, Australia, you have, in a sense, the Wales of the Southern Hemisphere. On the one hand they can be ruthless and a pleasure to watch, but on the flip side they can be frustratingly bad given the talent at their disposal.

Deans has, albeit slowly, begun to turn the Wallabies around, eradicating the complacency and inconsistency. But his work is far from complete, and therefore Wales have more than a sporting chance against a side they have fared well against in recent times this weekend.

With only a 'celebration' game to come against the Barbarians after Saturday the last thing the Wallabies will want is to round their year off with a defeat. There is no denying what Deans has done for them already, and that is just in his first season in charge.

But, and this is where Wales will draw hope and belief, they are still in a transition stage and have been known to crumble - South Africa will be only too happy to attest to that fact. As Wales showed against New Zealand, a good start can be all the difference, as long as it is coupled with a sustained effort.

One to Watch:

For Wales: On debut he was head and shoulders above the rest, but since then Andy Powell has failed to find the form that won him his place in Wales' squad in the first place. Not that he needs reminding, as the man himself admitted, he was disappointed with the way he played against New Zealand. Knowing what he must do to maintain his position in the Wales side we can expect a typical bustling and bruising display from the Cardiff Blues man, that is unless he fails to shake off Phil Waugh and co.

For Australia: Having come into the side as a late replacement last week Digby Ioane set about reminding Robbie Deans why he was capped in the first place. Such was Ioane's display that he has won himself a second shot at making the wing spot his own. Clearly the hunger is there, now we must see if he has the ability, as a top international wing should, to produce such a display on a consistent basis.

Head-to-Head: All things being equal and there will be a fine battle between Martyn Williams and Phil Waugh as they both look to give their side the upper hand. Hair colour aside, the pair are very similar in the way they play, and will see it as a matter of pride to be the man who comes out on top. Williams is crucial to Wales' chances, as he so often is these days, whilst Waugh has something of a point to prove to Deans, so don't expect there to be any love lost between these two old adversaries.

Recent Results:

2007: Australia won 32-20, Millennium Stadium (RWC)

2007: Australia won 31-0, Suncorp Stadium

2007: Australia won 29-23, Telstra Stadium

2006: Draw 29-29, Millennium Stadium

2005: Wales won 24-22, Millennium Stadium

2003: Australia won 30-10, Telstra Stadium

2001: Australia won 21-13, Millennium Stadium

1999: Australia won 24-9, Millennium Stadium (RWC)

1996: Australia won 28-19, National Stadium

1996: Australia won 42-3, Aussie Stadium

1996: Australia won 56-25, Ballymore

1992: Australia won 23-6, National Stadium

1991: Australia won 38-3, National Stadium (RWC)

Prediction: Difficult to know what to make of this one. On the one hand if Wales, and that is a big 'if', can muster eighty minutes like their first forty against New Zealand, they will win. But we all know Australia can destroy a side when they fire, the problem has been a lack of consistency over the past few years. Time to put our neck on the line, Wales by five points.

The Teams:

Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Ryan Jones (c), 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 John Yapp, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Dafydd Jones, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 James Hook, 22 Andrew Bishop.

Australia: 15 Drew Mitchell, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stirling Mortlock (c), 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Phil Waugh, 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 George Smith, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Lote Tuqiri/Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Date: Saturday 29 November, 2008

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Kick-off: 14:30 GMT

Weather: A grim day with fog and a high of 3°C will be kept out by a closed roof.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

Touch judges: Dave Pearson (England), Romain Poite (France)

Television match official: Peter Allan (Scotland)

Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)

By Marcus Leach