Wales play unchanged squad for third test against the Wallabies – Rugby News Update
Wales will name an unchanged starting XV from the one that played Australia in the second test at Melbourne, which the visiting team lost with the last kick off the game.
The Welsh came to Australia for a three-match test series on the back of winning the 2012 Six Nations Grand Slam, and playing an exciting brand of rugby. They were confident that they would clinch their first test victory over the Wallabies, but they are
yet to win a test against them away from home since 1969.
It has been 43 years since Wales defeated Australia ‘Down Under’, and they have a chance to break that jinx at Sydney on Saturday. Rob Howley, the interim head coach of Wales, is confident that his team can achieve the feat, and return back home in a winning
manner.
Wales has risen to 4th on the International Rugby Board World rankings, and the team management is proud of the players who have helped achieve this.
However, Howley was upset with the manner of defeat in the second test, which Australia won with only seconds left on the clock. He wants his team to go one better this time.
“We know what we have to do to beat Australia, but there is a difference between knowing how to win and achieving that aim," said Howley.
"This Wales team was within around 30 seconds of beating the Wallabies on their home patch for the first time in 43 years (in the second Test in Melbourne).”
"The challenge now is to go one better than that and make sure we are ahead on the scoreboard, not just when the hooter goes, but when the game finishes this weekend.”
He further added, "The players can take some credit for the way they played…”
Wales will go all out to claim a consolation victory, but it will feel more than that.
Wales team:
Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Ashley Beck, George North, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins. Res: Ken Owens, Paul James,
Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, James Hook, Scott Williams.
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