Autumn Internationals: Wales v Australia preview
Last Updated: 07/11/14 5:21pm
Wales will aim to end a woeful run against southern hemisphere sides when Australia visit the Millennium Stadium for their opening autumn international Test on Saturday.
It was 2008 when Wales last prevailed against any of the southern hemisphere’s ‘big three’ and indeed, it was the Wallabies who were beaten before a nightmare run which has now lasted over half a decade.
This latest showdown comes 96 days before the start of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the fact Wales and Australia have been drawn in the same pool gives the clash added significance.
Warren Gatland’s side simply must break the southern hemisphere hex if they are to enter the World Cup with confidence, but they come up against an Australia side who appear resurgent under the tutelage of Michael Cheika.
A summer of turmoil, involving a textgate saga and defeat to Argentina in The Rugby Championship, is over and the Waratahs head coach stepped in to replace Ewen McKenzie as Wallabies boss and claim his first win with a 40-36 success against the Barbarians at Twickenham last weekend.
Despite losing their last nine meetings with Australia as an individual nation, Gatland will take heart from the British & Irish Lions' series triumph he mastered Down Under in 2013, with several Welshmen featuring in the success.
In preparation for their clash with Australia, Gatland has posted George North at centre – a position from which he scored four tries for Northampton against Ospreys in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Injury worries
With Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams both absent due to injuries for the opening match of the November Test campaign, Gatland has switched the Northampton wing into midfield, where he will be partnered by Jamie Roberts.
In-form Scarlets back Liam Williams will wear the No 11 shirt, while Rhys Webb has edged out Mike Phillips for the scrum-half role.
Up-front, Gatland has opted for form selections with Bath prop Paul James earning a start ahead of Gethin Jenkins, Jake Ball is Alun-Wyn Jones' second-row partner and Dan Lydiate features at blindside flanker despite his lack of game-time with French club Racing Metro this season.
Elsewhere, full-back Leigh Halfpenny returns after missing Wales' last three Tests because of injury and he will be joined in the back three by Williams and Cardiff Blues wing Alex Cuthbert.
In a bid to earn a 10th successive victory over Wales, Wallabies head coach Cheika has made two changes to the starting side.
Melbourne Rebels flanker Sean McMahon did enough from the bench against the Baa-Baas to earn his international debut start, while No 8 Ben McCalman takes over from Scott Higginbotham, who is also sidelined through injury.
Australia later confirmed the final composition of their replacements' bench for Saturday - with fly-half Quade Cooper the surprise omission.
Cheika had initially named nine substitutes, and he has now opted for a split of six forwards and just two backs in scrum-half Will Genia and wing Rob Horne.
The back-up forwards confirmed are James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Will Skelton and Matt Hodgson.
Playmaker Cooper started last weekend's game against the Barbarians at Twickenham, but he is currently playing second fiddle to number 10 incumbent Foley.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny; 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 George North, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams; 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Paul James, 2 Richard Hibabrd, 3 Samson Lee; 4 Jake Ball, 5 Alun Wyn Jones; 6 Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (capt), 8 Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Cory Allen
Australia: 15 Israel Folau; 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane; 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 James Slipper, 2 Saia Fainga’a, 3 Sekope Kepu; 4 Sam Carter, 5 Rob Simmons; 6 Sean McMahon, 7 Michael Hooper (capt), 8 Ben McCalman
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Will Skelton, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Will Genia, 24 Rob Horne
Watch England play New Zealand live on Sky Sports 2 from 1.30pm on Saturday, and Ireland v South Africa from 5pm