A confident Australia should be too much for Wales
Australia have named an unchanged team from the side that defeated New Zealand 26-24 in the Bledisloe Cup for their Test against Wales on Saturday 6 November.
The Wallabies will visit the Millennium Stadium in a confident mood after beating the All Blacks and ending a 10-match losing record against their southern hemisphere rivals.
Winger James O’Connor is expected to continue with the kicking duties, as out-half Matt Giteau has struggled with his place kicking despite his great form for the team in every other aspect of the game.
Australia has no injury concerns and will be buoyed by their recent form, even though they finished second in the Tri Nations.
The Australian back-row that boasts David Pocock and Captain Rocky Elsom will look to gain a strong advantage for their side at the break down, while locks Nathan Sharpe and Mark Chisholm will compete strongly in the line out.
The Wallabies' attacking free flowing rugby is orchestrated by Matt Giteau, and the out-half will be one of the players that Wales has to watch. Giteau’s half-back partner Will Genia is a dynamic runner and has a quick pass. Welsh coach Warren Gatland is
likely to ask his players to maintain a high defence and close down the pair at every opportunity.
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Drew Mitchell and the evasive Quade Cooper are all dangerous strike runners and play-maker Giteau will look to find the trio with Australia’s exciting running game.
Australian coach Robbie Deans admitted that his side cannot rest on their laurels after beating the All Blacks and that they need to build up a level of consistency.
"What we're looking for out of the game itself will be the added elements that we haven't previously been doing consistently, particularly some of our decisions around when to play and when to look for field position in the last 20 minutes of the game,”
said the coach during Australia’s press conference.
Wales has not got the luxury of starting their strongest team. Gatland has had to deal with a host of injuries over the past few weeks.
British and Irish Lions Lee Byrne and Leigh Halfpenny are both out of their dynamic back three.
Shane Williams is now joined by the versatile James Hook who moves from the centre and by debutant Will Harries on the opposite week.
Jamie Roberts is missing in midfield and the experienced Tom Shanklin and Andrew Bishop start as the centre pairings.
Up front captain Ryan Jones is out with a calf injury and hooker Matthew Rees will take over the captaincy, while Jonathan Thomas fills in for Jones at number eight.
Wales has had a poor Six Nations campaign and only managed to beat Scotland and Italy, but they will hope to overcome their poor form with a victory over Australia.
The Welsh were beaten 12-33 at Cardiff last year by the Wallabies and they will go into the match as outsiders.
A confident Australia should have the talent to beat a Welsh team missing some important players through injury.
Prediction: Wales 21 Australia 35
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