WALES V AUSTRALIA: A LOOK AT THE HOME SIDE

On the day that Warren Gatland announced his 23 man squad to face Australia on Saturday, Wallabies’ prop Sekope Kepu declared Wales as the ‘fifth southern hemisphere team’.

This statement, although presumably flattering for the Welsh side, is very questionable. There is no denying that since Gatland took the helm in 2007, Wales have gone from strength to strength lifting the Six Nations trophy in 2008, 2012 and 2013. The latter win was the first time Wales had retained the Championship since their 1978/79 successes. In 2011 the squad exceeded all expectations by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup only to narrowly miss out on the final through a red card curtesy of ref Allan Rolland.

Despite these achievements, Welsh fans have not relished in southern hemisphere victory since 2008 when Wales beat the Wallabies at the Millennium Stadium. Having come within a point of victory, it has been 13 years since a Welsh victory over South Africa and do I really need to discuss Wales’ record against New Zealand. I’ll just say, 1953.

Surely to be thought of on the same level as the southern hemisphere rugby giants, one must be able to beat them on a more regular occasion than once ever few decades.

If Wales want to go one step further in the 2015 World Cup and reach the final they must and I can’t stress this enough, they must record at least one win during these autumn international. 2003, the year England lifted the World Cup. In the autumn international series of 2002 the English recorded historic wins. They beat New Zealand 31-28, thrashed South Africa 53-3, and scraped past Australia by 32 points to 31 – a team they would later meet in the World Cup final.

England sent out a message to the rugby world. They were ready and they weren’t scared.

Sam Warburton and his men will be hoping to achieve the same vibe this November.

Leigh Halfpenny who, although back from fitness, has not had much game time with Toulon takes his position at full-back, Alex Cuthbert resumes his place on the wing but it will be Liam Williams accompanying him rather than the power-house that is George North. With Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams out injured, North has been chosen to line-up alongside exile Jamie Roberts in the centre. One thing that I can confidently conclude from this partnership is that I would not like to be the Australians attempting to defend them. We have seen the strength of North with the remarkable fire-man’s lift he gave the 6’4 Israel Folau in the final Lions test in 2013 and his performances for Northampton this season have been noteworthy. 

Roberts has admittedly not been as dynamic in recent seasons as he was when he first came onto the international scene in 2008, presumably because the opposition have since worked out ways to stop him powering over the gain-line while dragging three tacklers behind him. Nevertheless, Roberts is still a great ball carrier and on a good day he can rip the oppositions defence to pieces. North and Roberts together – now that promises to be delicious.

The unattached Dan Lydiate has been deemed fit to start on Saturday with backs coach, Rob Howley stating that the flanker is one of the top 5 in terms of fitness level in the squad. However, Howley is quick to note that being fit and being match fit are two completely different things. With Lydiate having not played any rugby in the last month and only four hours in total since the start of the season with Racing Metro, Saturday’s game against Australia will be one hell of a test for the 26 year old.

Dan Biggar gets the number ten shirt ahead of Scarlets’ Rhys Priestland, Rhys Webb gets the nod at scrum half while Racing Metro’s Mike Philips starts the game on the bench. Samson Lee, Paul James and Richard Hibbard make up the front row which left not room for old heads, Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

According to Wales Online, the last time Wales played one of the mighty southern hemisphere three without Philips, Jones or Jenkins was back in November of 2005. The match which was also against Australia ended with a Welsh victory – 24-22. A good omen for Saturday? Maybe.  

Although many players included have not had much game time over the past few weeks and despite some injuries to the likes of hooker Ken Owens, this XXIII man squad to face Australia looks relatively strong. We will have to wait for the Australian team announcement to see the extent of the challenge that will face Wales under the hot fireworks smoke of the Millennium Stadium on Saturday but there is no doubting that there is immense talent on this team sheet. It’s just whether players rise  to the occasion as they all need to play at their best to have any chance to beat Australia. After all, Australia did come incredibly close to beating the World Champions, New Zealand, in the Rugby Championship back in August and in October, drawing 12 all in the former and losing by four points in the latter. Barring Fiji, Australia will theoretically be the ‘easier’ (although there is never ever such a thing as an easy game of rugby let alone against the southern hemisphere giants) of the four fixtures Wales will play this November. This will be their best chance at recording a win during this series. It’s their chance to show the world what they’re made of ahead of next year’s big ‘un.

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Unattached), Sam Warburton (Capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (London Wasps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues).