Rugby’s autumn internationals, Wales vs Australia
Australian aims are far above the ground for their 2nd match of this year’s autumn international season, after beating World number one New Zealand in their opening match.
Australia is going to play against Wales this Saturday at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. With a win in the first match, they are fully confident for positive results in the 2nd match as well.
Past Record
If we see the past record of the matches between both countries then Australia is far ahead of Wales. Both teams have played 29 international Test matches against each other in their century long rugby history. Australia won 18 matches out of 29 matches,
while Wales only won 10 matches, 1 match was drawn.
Australia’s record at Millennium Stadium is also better than Wales. Both teams have played 7 matches at the Millennium Stadium before this one and Australia is on the lead there as well, Australia won 4 matches, while Wales only won 2 matches and 1 match
was drawn.
Australia’s Problem
Australian centre Matt Giteau said his team has a lot of self belief but the biggest problem is to play two back to back games. He said, they have been facing a problem of regularity in their wins, they play well in one match but in the very next match,
they do not perform up to the mark. On their win over New Zealand, he said,
"Beating New Zealand was a big step forward for us. We have had a lot of close games and we have put in a lot of hard work without getting the results. This time we won a tight game and we will take a lot from that”.
Furthermore, he spoke about the Welsh team and said, “Wales have good players who can hurt you from anyplace. Welsh players like to throw the ball around and their forwards are mobile”. It is similar to the way his team tried to play in the Tri Nations.
Australian Squad
Australian head coach, Robbie Deans, has recently announced that they will play with the similar team, which played in the game against New Zealand, which shows his reliance on his winning team.
Rocky Elsom will be the captain of Australia in the match. He was also captain of Australia, when Australia defeated Wales last year at Cardiff with the score of 33-12.
Wales’ Problems
Wales are also missing consistency in their wins and desperately need uniformity. They have shifted to number 10 in the International Rugby Board’s ratings. This is the lowest rank of Wales ever. They have only won 2 games in their last 9 international test
matches.
Welsh coach, Warren Gatland, said they are trying to develop strength in the team but they have to play like a team, which performs with consistency and wins matches in all the tournaments against all the teams.
Moreover, Gatland said, Australia will be full of confidence and are well set after their dazzling win over New Zealand and if Wales wants to be triumphant against Australia then they have to act upon it with their full potential.
Wales are in front of injury problems. There many star players are out from rugby due to injuries, which makes their team much weaker. Lee Byrne, Ryan Jones and Leigh Halfpenny are the main players, who recently got injured and will miss the match against
Australia.
Welsh coach, Gatland has called James Hook, Will Harries and Dan Lydiate back in the team to coat the positions of inured players.
Our Opinion
Although, Australia’s team looks superior on paper and they have a healthier record as compared to Wales, it will be the performance on the ground, which will decide, who is the best team on match day.
Teams
Wales (15-1) James Hook; Will Harries, Tom Shanklin, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Jonathan Thomas, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate; Alun-Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies; Adam Jones, Matthew Rees (capt), Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Paul James, Deiniol Jones, Martyn Williams, Richie Rees, Dan Biggar, Chris Czekaj
Australia (15-1)Kurtley Beale; James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Rocky Elsom (capt); Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm; Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Benn
Robinson
Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Dean Mumm, Richard Brown, Luke Burgess, Berrick Barnes, Lachie Turner
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