Wales coach Warren Gatland has made six changes, including moving powerhouse wing George North to centre in one of two positional switches, when naming his side to play Australia in this weekend’s World Cup Pool A decider at Twickenham.
New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe is set for his first Test start at full-back in place of the injured Matthew Morgan, in a back three that sees Liam Williams recalled after the wing missed Wales’ 23-13 win over Fiji because of concussion.
“He’s cool headed, he brings confidence and assurance,” said Gatland of fellow Kiwi Anscombe, qualified for Wales through his mother.
Elsewhere in the backs, North is set to provide Wales with an especially powerful midfield alongside regular centre Jamie Roberts.
Up front, Luke Charteris comes into Wales’ second row and Paul James starts at prop in place of Gethin Jenkins.
Meanwhile skipper Sam Warburton moves across the back-row to blindside flanker, allowing Justin Tipuric to start at openside.
The winners of Saturday’s match will top the group and so avoid two-time world champions South Africa in the quarter-finals, with Scotland and Japan competing for the runners-up spot in Pool B and the right to face either Australia or Wales in the last eight.
Wales and Australia have already qualified for the quarter-finals.
They each beat knocked-out tournament hosts England in pool play and both sides have won all three of their matches at this World Cup so far.
Australia have won their last 10 Tests against Wales – including a third-place playoff clash at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
However, Warburton said topping the pool and maintaining a run of form which has seen his side beaten just once – by Ireland in a warm-up match – in their last 10 matches, was the team’s driving force
“We want to be top of the pool to say we won four out of four. Out of the last 10 matches, we’ve only lost one. It’s good to keep momentum going.”
Warburton added: “It’s a huge motivation to end top and avoid a southern hemisphere draw.
“I don’t think the boys mind either way. There’s no easy way to win a World Cup.”
Wales will effectively be playing two openside flankers in Warburton and Justin Tipuric, with both players renowned for their work at the breakdown.
It was a tactic used to superb effect by Australia in a 33-13 win over England last weekend, where David Pocock and Michael Hooper starred for the Wallabies in a result that condemned the hosts to a group-stage exit following their 28-25 loss to Wales.
Hooper, however, will miss Saturday’s match after receiving a one-week ban for shoulder-charging England full-back Mike Brown.
“I was looking forward to playing both of them,” said Warburton, the captain of a British and Irish Lions side, coached by Gatland, that won a Test series in Australia two years ago.
“It’s a great challenge and what you want to do in World Cups.
“You don’t get breakdown threats as accomplished as them in the northern hemisphere, so it’s great to play the boys from down south.”
Wales side to play Australia:
Gareth Anscombe; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (capt); Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Paul James.
Reserves: Ken Owens, Aaron Jarvis, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Ross Moriarty, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, James Hook.
IronAwe
Guest
Get over it dude. It's not going to change and it's only going to get worse. It's not about the players, its about the team. The team represents it's country. The team is supported by its country. The team is the sum of its coaches, its culture and its methods. You could take a motley group of randoms and stick them in the All Blacks, and it would still be NZ coaches, NZ facilities, NZ systems, NZ style of play, NZ enthusiasm. It doesn't matter where the players come from, it will always be one country vs another. People who get upset about some player heading to another country have their ancient heads buried in the sand. They are a dying breed. Good thing too.
Moreton Bait
Guest
Yep Peter that would be correct. Not a lot between them in terms of world ranking then....
PeterK
Roar Guru
Wallabies are rated 2nd after beating Eng so they are rated ahead of wales.
For once I completely agree with you.
Not Bothered
Guest
Dont be absurd. The whole idea of internationals is to have players from one country playing another bunch of players from another country. Not to have a bunch of players from wherever playing another bunch of players from wherever pretending to be from where the jumper says they are from. You know that right? I have no problem with players playing for a country if they moved there as a child but Speight is not Australian for example, Anscombe isnt Welsh. Anscombe had NEVER lived in Wales as far as I know, so to mention he is from NZ makes sense to me, more sense than him playing for Wales, a country which is NOT his own. Yes its international rugby but that doesnt mean you just pick a country to play for, it means you play for your country.
Moreton Bait
Guest
Totally agree. Too many roarers assuming Aust will progress to meet Scotland next. Wales are better than England & not to be under-estimated. Forget past victories. Clearly the Welsh players are throwing everything into this tournament: Gatland - no mindless comments during this week - very quiet - well selected team Wales: Great tight 5, there version of Pooper is Warpuric, and it's not too shabby They broke England late and then outlasted them The non-injured players are super fit, very focused Currently rated higher that Wallabies Virtually playing at home Due a win v Wallabies Don't think Biggar has missed a kick in two matches If Wlaes win then are we almost guaranteed North v South for the rest of the tournament?
IronAwe
Guest
"New Zealand-born Gareth Anscombe is set for his first Test start at full-back in place of the injured Matthew Morgan, in a back three that sees Liam Williams recalled after the wing missed Wales’ 23-13 win over Fiji because of concussion. “He’s cool headed, he brings confidence and assurance,” said Gatland of fellow Kiwi Anscombe, qualified for Wales through his mother." This really bores me. I don't care where the player was born. It's got nothing to do with the article. We live in an international age, it's going to happen. All the best to Wales, but I think the Wallabies are going to be too strong.
Taylorman
Guest
Yes oz won't be expecting to outlast Wales, who, with their injuries and only four days rest before England, finished stronger. Gatland had the squad in the heat of Dubai and up the Swiss alps for this so oz will need to go 80 to beat them.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
WB's beware: - England: poor on paper, poor on park. Confidence in "playing quality" better measured to a win vs say Scotland - Welsh scrum is bigger than vs England - IMO will aim to take WBs down a peg & in turn shake confidence. - Tipuric is one of best NH 7's, would make any NH team. - North has played centre on numerous occasions. He will run it back towards forwards and avoid Pocock's pilfering - Wales has seen WBs back row in action - Gatland will have a counter strategy, not like England who didn't bother (I appreciate Hooper is out). - England sliced through WBs with ease - Wales will convert those metres into points. - Wales are well rested with key fresh legs brought in. Wales win by 10+ points
Garynewmans
Guest
G'day OB Thiis welsh side looks like a classic Warrenball side. Bash it up round the corner, clean out, straight up the guts and repeat. It looks like a no surprises approach from both sides given the selections. Coaching battle may well be the difference here.
Fairly Rucked
Roar Rookie
I have always been more worried by this game than the England game. And I am still worried. Gatland is a smart coach, (other than his endless yap and mind game before each test) I think he is similar to Cheika in that regard. Really looking forward to seeing two opensides going against each other, just s hame Hooper is not there but McMahon is not far behind. How big are their centres... Will be interesting to see how we counter that, has North played much in the centre? If not that could be a worry for them as positional play there is very different to the wing. Very big call but I like it... Let's hope it doesn't work. Scrum will be interesting. I don't think our scrum was miles ahead of England. Yes we won there but it was close. Another dominant display will help with my doubts. Very excited again....
PeterK
Roar Guru
Welsh are fit unlike England and have 2 opensiders so I do not expect the same as last week.
PeterK
Roar Guru
this is the best frontrow wales have, stronger than the english scrum.
PeterK
Roar Guru
this wales scrum is a lot stronger than the one against england or fiji. This is the first time their best props have been able to start due to injury. Gatland has been very smart in his selections. Scrum and breakdown adv of wallabies negated to a large degree. In fact since McMahon does not pilfer Wales has the advantage there. Very big backline. Wallabies ad is that North rarely plays centre, Cuthbert on the wing in poor form. Wales lack speed as aust does in the backline but they have size. Aust has the better kicking game options, need to keep turning these big guys around and exploit North in defense.
SP
Guest
New centre combination for Wales - I think North could be found out defensively. New back 3 combination as well and Cuthbert is being lambasted by Welsh fans. Apparently he has been rubbish for a while. Inexperienced front row. Strong 2nd row, backrow and halves combination. It will be a tough game but i think the Wallabies can sneak it.
Old Bugger
Guest
Yep agree t-man. More important though is what will be Cheika's game tactics?? Will the WBs try the same as last week to run the welsh off their feet or will they close-up-shop and havago in the forwards....if its the latter, is that Cheika's reason to switch Mumm for Simmons?? I suggest, the WBs may just have a crack up the middle and defend like hell on the tram-lines.....there'll be no excuses for both sides and as you say, Anscombe ain't no slouch when it comes, to spreading the pill.
Jameswm
Guest
Agree with those comments, but not sure about the prediction!
Paul
Guest
While I have every respect for Wales, consider the teams that faced each other the last 10 times where the Wallabies won. Wales are possibly at one of their weaker points in recent times while the Wallabies are clearly at the top of their game. Wales got past England on emotion, the Wallabies demolished England.
ScotandProud
Guest
I see an Aussie win, England lost their game against Wales more than Wales won it. Wales are weakened by injuries but they aren't that strong anyway. Front row for Wales is woeful right now and there's a new back three. Aussie win.
RT
Guest
They're paying $3.50 so you should run down the shop and put the house on it, you'll make a motza.