Wales XV retained for 3rd Test v Wallabies
Wales will field an unchanged starting team to pursue a keenly-sought consolation victory in the third rugby union Test against the Wallabies in Sydney on Saturday (3pm AEST).
The only change to the squad named on Thursday was on the bench, where hooker Ken Owens came in for Richard Hibbard.
With the Wallabies having already clinched the series after wins in Brisbane and Melbourne, Six Nations champions Wales still have plenty of pride at stake at Allianz Stadium.
The last-gasp 25-23 second Test loss was the sixth straight loss Wales has suffered against the Wallabies and their 10th in a row on Australian soil.
“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 Wales caretaker coach Rob 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.
“The players can take some credit for the way they played for the large part of the match on Saturday, but that will be scant consolation if we don’t come home with a win in this series.
“We have risen to our highest position (fourth) in the IRB World rankings because of our performances so far this season, which can have positive repercussions for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“But now we want to stay there and that means coming away with the spoils on Saturday afternoon.”
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.
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (10) | Page 1 of Comments
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June 21st 2012 @ 3:14pm
Hoy said | June 21st 2012 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
On one hand, a part of me says obviously they did almost win, and were obviously in the hunt on the score board, but the other part of me thinks they were not that close to beating the Wallabies, as they didn’t look that good playing last weekend and the Wallabies didn’t really look that troubled around the park. Score is all that matters I guess.
June 21st 2012 @ 3:18pm
Jutsie said | June 21st 2012 @ 3:18pm | Report comment
My feelings exactly. Wish shane williams was still around was expecting some fireworks in their backline not crash and bash stuff.
June 21st 2012 @ 6:35pm
Wales15 said | June 21st 2012 @ 6:35pm | Report comment
The Wallabies didn’t exactly trouble Wales either.
June 21st 2012 @ 6:50pm
matthew said | June 21st 2012 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
Wallabies were playing a second string backline. Imagine they had Cooper, O’Conner, Beale three world class backs that would make them 20 % more dangerous and unpredictable. Davies is a clever player but Wales are all about bosh really.
June 21st 2012 @ 8:13pm
Ben S said | June 21st 2012 @ 8:13pm | Report comment
I don’t entirely disagree with what you’re saying, but all of Genia, Ioane, McCabe and AAC are first team players for Australia, and it’s not like Australia set the world alight when those other three were playing. Beale hasn’t been close to his best form at fullback for a good while now, and Cooper is, as Ireland and England have demonstrated, not amazingly difficult to close down.
Wales aren’t really an expansive side, so I’m not sure where that myth has come from. They’re pragmatic, and like you say, about a bit of bosh, which is a shame, as they have some very good players who I don’t think are utilised correctly.
June 21st 2012 @ 10:56pm
Wales15 said | June 21st 2012 @ 10:56pm | Report comment
Previous years maybe in regards to where that myth arose from? I’ll admit in the last 12 months or so they have not been expansive, but if you look at them previously most notably the 2008 grand slam or 2005 – these are evidence of their past expansive rugby.
I agree about the players not being utlised correctly. If they were to use Roberts, North and Cuthbert as decoys now and again they would score a lot more tries. Size and strength is helpful if your attack is unpredictable, but when you know Jamie is going to run at you,, you can just stick two or three guys on him. I think England did that once using Joe Worsley – it was effective.
I think Wales should have a look at how rugby league teams attack. I notice Melbourne and Brisbane are some of the top attacking sides because they use their strike runners as decoys and make them unpredictable. Greg Inglis for Souths is a good example.
June 21st 2012 @ 11:09pm
Ben S said | June 21st 2012 @ 11:09pm | Report comment
In 2005 the side was expansive – I totally agree, but Gatland is a very pragmatic coach, and Howley has struggled with developing the backline. I just think it’s a waste of talent and Wales have been using the same tactics for too long now – down the middle, and kicking down the tramlines.
June 22nd 2012 @ 9:44am
Justin2 said | June 22nd 2012 @ 9:44am | Report comment
I agree, outside a moment or two from individuals on either side there hasnt been that much great rugby played.
June 22nd 2012 @ 9:55am
Jutsie said | June 22nd 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
For me wallabies are as expected or even just slightly better but the welsh have disappointed.
I wasn’t expecting much from the wallabies, they have been exactly where I expected with the backline (maybe a shade better as barnes has really improved from s15 level) and the forward pack has performed at a higher level and more consistently than last year (so far lol).
I should have watched more of the 6 nations as I was expecting the welsh team of the world cup, I didn’t realise how much priestland’s form had dropped. So maybe my expectations of the welsh were too high.
June 21st 2012 @ 4:21pm
Worlds Biggest said | June 21st 2012 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
I think we were all expecting the Welsh to play expansively however there halves are well out of form and they miss Roberts getting them over the advantage line on each carry. His go forward sets the template and has been sorely missed. They have an excellent back 3 who they should use more.