Wales coach Warren Gatland handed out a warning to the Wallabies as he named a new captain and a powerful, motivated team for their Rugby World Cup third-place playoff.
The two teams meet at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday in a clash viewed as an unnecessary anti-climax by some critics just days after their title hopes were dashed.
But Gatland made it clear his exciting young team had unfinished business as they look to bounce back from their controversial 9-8 semi-final loss to France in which skipper Sam Warburton was sent off.
They meet the Wallabies again in six weeks time when the Australians make a two-match tour to Britain, and Gatland was adamant they wanted to take bragging rights into that Millennium Stadium clash.
“We face Australia back home in just over a month’s time and are single minded in our assertion that we want that home coming to be a celebration of us achieving the status of one of the top three teams in the world,” said Gatland.
Gatland named prop Gethin Jenkins to take over as skipper in place of the suspended Warburton.
There were three player changes as they look to continue the attacking momentum that made them a talking point of the tournament.
Former skipper Ryan Jones comes from the bench to join the backrow in place of suspended captain Sam Warburton, with Toby Faletau switching from No.8 to the vacant openside flank.
Paul James replaces injured tighthead prop Adam Jones and Bradley Davies comes into the second row to rest Alun Wyn Jones.
With classy young five eighth Rhys Priestland still injured, the backline remains unchanged as James Hook retains the five eighth role despite being subbed off in favour of veteran Stephen Jones when struggling to spark his short-handed team against France.
“We are sticking with the majority of the side which has put together a string of performances for us so far in the tournament,” Gatland said.
“The one change which wasn’t forced is based on the fact Alan Wyn ran himself into the ground when we faced France.”
Wales are already guaranteed their most successful World Cup campaign since the inaugural 1987 tournament in New Zealand – where they beat Australia in the corresponding playoff for third.
But Gatland is not content.
“We have come a long way and put together a string of performances that the nation can be proud of so far in New Zealand.
“And we need to ensure that the history books reflect what we know we are capable of. And it is only by beating the Wallabies on Friday that we feel this will be achieved.”
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Ryan Jones, Toby Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Paul James, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins (capt). Res: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams.
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