The Wallabies take on Wales at Millennium stadium for the final and most anticipated game of their European tour. Join us on The Roar for scores, comments and live updates from 1.30am Sunday AEDT.
With 14 tests and an expanded Super Rugby season, it’s been a busy year for the Wallabies. If they aren’t jaded they should be.
Of these tests, the Wallabies have won eight, lost five and drawn one. Notably, included in these eight wins was a 3-0 whitewash of the Welsh during their tour of Australia.
This record was enough to see them lose second spot to South Africa on the IRB world rankings, a position they can get back if they defeat Wales by 16 points or more this weekend.
Moving to this week and Robbie Deans’ men will be looking to dust themselves off after their most recent game; a bruising encounter against Italy which they won 22-19.
In this match the cliché ‘it’s a game of two halves’ rang true enough to almost be justified for use during the captain’s full-time interview.
The first half performance from the Australians produced a fluent, damaging and clinical attack. They racked up 22 points and a 16 point lead going into the sheds.
The Italians must have had better oranges as they bolted out the tunnel for the second half and played the game of their lives.
In the final stats Australia dominated in two notable areas: tackles, with Wycliff Palu leading the charge with 19, and kicking, with Kurtley Beale launching the oblong 13 times.
Tellingly, despite Australia’s first half dominance, by the time the final whistle blew Italy owned the stats for offloads, runs, metres and line-breaks.
The scoreboard, however, remains the final frontier for the Azzuri, who have not managed to beat Australia in 17 attempts.
And so the Wallabies dive into their final ruck of the year and in doing so send off their inspirational body-missile and captain Nathan Sharpe.
The man’s win record over his 115 tests for the national side exceeds 60 percent, not a bad statistic when you’re entire career is pegged against the most dominant side in rugby history, a title this current All Blacks side can claim.
If you take the New Zealanders out of the equation his win record spikes to 72 percent.
Unfortunate for Sharpe, like his coach, he will be judged on his record against the kiwis, not the rest of the world.
Wales coach Warren Gatland was drawn into this argument in the lead up to the game, when he came to the defence of Wallabies coach Robbie Deans and his squad.
“Their lack of consistency is only because they can’t beat the All Blacks, but not many of us can,” he said.
“It is a bit hard when you win the Tri-Nations last year, you finished second in the Rugby Championship this year, finish third in the World Cup and people want to get rid of you, isn’t it?”
Australian coach Robbie Deans was keener to discuss the Welsh in the lead up to the game “We’ve been in Cardiff all week,” Deans said.
“You pick up on how important rugby is to the nation … they have recent experience against this side and we have a lot of respect for their capabilities.
“In June, we were lucky enough to get up, but there was nothing in any of those encounters.
“We are up against a side that is desperate to win. We know they will throw everything at us.”
“Quick taps are a big part of their game. Quick throws will be as well. We’ve seen that in recent times.. and we will see it again on the weekend.”
To the Wallabies line-up, and Sitaleki Timani takes a spell on the dunce’s chair in row F, as he reflects on his striking charge and one match ban.
He will be missed, with enforcer Wycliff Palu noting “(Timani) is going to be a big loss for us. I love playing with him and seeing him in the D-line there.”
However even with Timani out, this is possibly the best team the Wallabies have fielded this year.
Bolstering their defence around the ruck will be Tatafu Polota-Nau who returns at hooker.
In-form livewire Nick Cummins takes his rightful place at wing, while world-class Drew Mitchell gets a guernsey at the other wing.
Kurtley Beale gets another run at fly half, with Ben Tapuai and Adam Ashley-Cooper outside him in midfield.
Most significant for the team is the return of David Pocock at flanker.
His starting berth meant the unseating of Michael Hooper; a player who could have been in the frame for IRB 2012 World Player of the Year nominations.
The latter takes their place on the bench, not a bad 60th minute introduction to the game. And no doubt Deans will utilise this option given Pocock’s lack of match fitness following his return from injury.
It’s unlikely Deans will have both fetchers on the field at the same time. While it would present a fascinating tag-team at the ruck, there may be perception that a pair of ball-fetching flankers undermines the lineout, pick and drive facets of game-play and defence around the ruck.
Higginbotham takes the blindside position to cover these requirements.
Other notable inclusions include Waratahs reserve Brendan McKibbin, who flew across to replace the injured Brett Sheehan.
If he comes off the bench to replace starter Nick Phipps, the 27-year-old will undermine his eligibility to play for the Scottish team. Curiously, if he’s not called on the field from the bench he can still play for Scotland at a later date.
Onto the opponents, and if Wales lose this test match it will be a massive blow for the proud rugby nation.
A loss will see them lose their top-eight seeding, meaning they’ll land in a bad place come Rugby World Cup 2015 by having to meet the big guns earlier in the draw.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, Gatland is looking to starve the Wallabies of possession and territory.
“We need to pick up from where we left off in the second half last week,” he said.
“We managed to retain 73 percent possession after the break against the All Blacks and win the territory battle and we need to put Australia under similar pressure from the outset.”
To the Wales starting team and Ryan Jones is benched to be replaced by in-form Aaron Shingler in the loose forwards.
Prop Aaron Jarvis is injured and replaced by Scott Andrews. Andrew Hore’s victim from last week, Bradley Davies, is replaced by lock Ian Evans due to a concussion.
English club Bath is not releasing their prop Paul James for his national duty; this game falls outside the IRB window and clubs were not required to release their players this week. As a result he’s replaced by Gethin Jenkins.
To combat Australia’s pair of world-class fetchers, Gatland has chosen the impressive Justin Tipuric at reserve flanker to support captain Sam Warburton. If Wales are going to win then Gatland needs his captain to stand up.
Australia has won seven in a row against the Welsh, and has never lost with referee Wayne Barnes at the whistle.
In an ominous fate for the Welsh, we can expect the battle at the breakdown to determine the winner this weekend.
Join us at 1.30am AEDT for the live scores and where you can have your say on the go.
bennalong
Guest
On the strength of the England win against the All Blacks? We beat them, remember. How do you reconcile the two?
bennalong
Guest
I understand how you have felt about the games Frank, but there is the question of a team that kept self belief without halves who could capitalise on incredibly solid foreward play Phipps is no better than he was at the start of the tour and frankly, neither is Beale. I am incredibly disappointed that Beale has not recovered his confidence at 5/8, which he lost at 19 when blooded too early at the Tahs But the team has shown incredible resilience and have backed each other through thick and thin They have emerged from an horrific period of injuries with a confidence born of hard fought wins, grafted out of hard fought battles in the forewards and resolute defence by them all At the end of a bizarre season, don't follow the haters by denying them their success in keeping their IRB rating and recording a series of away wins, always hardfought, and without support from so-called supporters only interested in beating the All Blacks and being number 1 !!!
Johnno
Guest
KPM yes I do. A good chance too, that or the QLD reds, . Surely if Drew Mitchellis up to it, and he was so slow today, or Lachie Turner, or Pat Mcabe, or Nick Cummins, then surly Folau has the potential to make the wallabies KPM. A good signiging if it happens he will be very good at rugby Folau, and he has pleayd rugby as a teenager so knows about the game and his Tongan heritage too, so he is not walking into a sport he knows nothing about unlike his time playing AFL KPM.
kingplaymaker
Guest
Thanks Johnno. By the way do you remember yesterday we were discussing the possibility of Folau going to the Waratahs? It looks like it's going to happen!
Machiavelli
Guest
I guess Frank it was to counter Wales bringing Tipuric on who turned out to be a handful. I thought it worked. Dennis knew what he had to do at lock and we want seamless transitions in the pack. Further, I would say that timings of Deans substitutions were just right in this game. Ensured sufficient gas in tank right to the minute!
Johnno
Guest
Agree Frank they have deteriated over the year. Only 2 matches where the wallabies truly played well. We won in Rosario but we were sloppy as were the Argies, both teams were it was a sloppy game. The pressure the wallabies will be under for the Lions series will be boiling point, massive massive , were talking world cup grand final for 3 game straight or defiantly the 1st 2 matches. And if Deans stays, the whole build up will be if the wallabies make the right design keeping Deans, and if we lose narrowly even, the ARU will get the blame big time not Deans. I think the ARU need to cut the Deans era, we are not going forwad , just floating and stagnating Frank. Link or Jake White, I say Link but only just. but Jake White would be high class coach very tempting, . But Link just as he knows many of these players very well having coached a lot of them.
Johnno
Guest
lol stillmatic1. I'm not KPM'S puppet, but KPM's selction's have come off more than once now. He backed Timani when no one else did, and now look how far Timani has come, he backed Palu when many wrote him off, and Samo too, and he backed SBW all the way too so KPM's selections have been accurate. And Nonu against big centres his own size and aggression has been exposed at times, he is not a flat track bully by any means but my point is Nonu when he meets a player with the same levels of physicality , someone like Manu Tuilagi, or Rougarie, or a SBW, is lacking plan B often. Robbie freun last year took Nonu on a bit too, Freun big 6'4 110kg, and Nonu found the going tough. Tuilagi really exposed Nonu a bit. Tuilagi has a lot better acceleration than Nonu and is taller and more explosive naturally and is 10 years younger is 21.
Chops
Guest
Not blaming the ref for the standard of play at all.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Johnno, I was actually laughing when the Wallabies won. I was walking around the room laughing my head off! Wales are just the most ridiculous side for not beating us. That might have been the worst performance of the year! The Wallabies were a bunch of headless chickens in attack. For Wales to be in a position where they should have won, and to lose again. They honestly should be 3-1, instead of 0-4. Somehow Deans leaves this tour 3-1... which is a respectable number. But the Wallabies have gotten worse and worse this year. Brisbane and England the only highlights...
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Win or lose, Deans was poor with his subs. It was an absolutely illogical move.
Johnno
Guest
Nathan Wales will be filthy , I think that wallaby dressing room will be having fun now coz it's Sharpies last game and end of a long season, but i'm sure performance wise they will feel more like they had achieved a draw than a win. A slightly hollow feeling they will have. A draw to me is how I feel. Wales certainly didn't deserve to win the match either they were very average too, a draw is how I felt after the match.
stillmatic1
Guest
it was one game johnno. you do realise that, dont you? how many poor games have tuilagi/sbw/fruen had thus far? wake up man, you dont have to be KPM's puppet all the time.
Machiavelli
Guest
Absolutely, asked the question and Wales had no answer! Whilst its been a horror year it looks like we may just have a forward platform to speak of, good D and most importantly, a side with belief. With a fully fit squad providing depth, competition for places, and the opportunity for stable combinations on which to improve the attack, fans and opponents will be using the word formidable in relation to the WBs come next years EOY tour - mark my words. Already the Lions will know that you just cannot write them off. Gotta hand it to Sharpe, the team and coaching staff - who would have thought in September that we would end up with so many positives! That's not to say that they needlessly made it more difficult for themselves but I'm sure other Roarers will deal with those negative aspects ad nauseum. Lets hope hard earned lessons are absorbed and players stay healthy.
stillmatic1
Guest
what has the other game got to do with it? havent you learnt your lesson yet kpm? when you get called out for still claiming palu was excellent in HK v the abs (when he didnt play), i think it is time to give it up. nice to see your back to your usual trolling re: AB backline problems because they have finally lost a game.
Johnno
Guest
KPM you are right about Nonu and Conrad Smith, you copped a lot of flack on here for cristicing there lack of attack and flair and for your support of SBW. Well Nonu and Smith both 31 now got exposed by a bigger , younger , faster stronger Manu Tuilagi. A 27yr old SBW would of really cleaned up the midfield for the AB'S as would Kahui who is only 27 too, ot the big young Robbie Freuan 6'4 who only needs a chance at the high level and a coach who used him well. Rouagarie in the world cup final last year got the better of Nonu and Conrad Smith too. Nonu when he comes up against players just as big and strong and fast struggles, he is not a flat track bully but certainly not the enforcer . SBW I have not once seen any player get the better of him in League or Union. He was so dominant for the AB'S vs the wallabies this year KPM.
kingplaymaker
Guest
Frank before you have go at Deans did you see the New Zealand England result? And consider that the Wallabies have masses of injuries unlike New Zealand?
Johnno
Guest
Agree Frank tonight felt like a draw or a loss. I don't think I have ever felt so deflated after a win it felt like a loss or a draw. these lucky streak wins, winning games we're not supposed to win will run out. ARU ned to sack Deans, big series vs the Lions next year will be far better than Wales, to much is on the line for aussy rugby next year $70 million cash windfall the series will generate if we lose the series the ARU will get all the blame for keeping Deans, and so much pressure will be on the wallabies to win if deans stays on for wallaby series vs lions unessecary pressure.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
All in all, Wales got lazy at the end - they had decided they had won it before they had, you know, actually won it. Got sloppy, paid full market price.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Game was worse than average. Barnes did well. You can't blame the ref when two sides don't know how to play proper rugby. And Deans, what was with taking off a second rower (limiting Australia to two jumpers) when Wales' line-out was struggling? His tinkering around with the pack stuffed the scrum at one point and led to 3 points for Wales. Please ARU, just get rid of him! Enough is enough! Can't you see the Wallabies had a horrid tour despite three wins?
Chops
Guest
Extremely average game aside, whistle happy ref and tragic commentary did not help