Wallabies vs Wales: Rugby World Cup final score, highlights

The Wallabies will face a real test when they take on Wales in this crucial group game. Wales have the current bragging rights, but Australia have the best of this fixture over the longer term.

Victory here should secure the winners top spot in the group which could prove crucial once we reach the knock out stages.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 5:45pm AEST on Sunday.

Both sides picked up wins in their opening games but neither side was overly convincing and the Wallabies especially had to work very hard to earn the win over Fiji.

In response Michael Cheika has made some important changes in his backs. Will Genia and Bernard Foley are back in the starting line up.

Foley will be desperate to make this opportunity count – he’s been missing for a bit and he will want to show that he can repeat his 2015 World Cup form.

Unfortunately his current form, especially with the boot, isn’t great – he missed four from six against Samoa recently and his 79 per cent success rate during the Super Rugby season is poor.

With Reece Hodge banned for three weeks, Cheika has brought in Adam Ashley-Cooper at wing and Dane Haylett-Petty has replaced Kurtley Beale at full-back.

Ashley-Cooper will join a small group who have played at four World Cups but you have to wonder whether he’s really still got the pace of a world-class winger.

For Wales, Warren Gatland feels that the team who started against Georgia are the right players to get the job done against the Wallabies and he’s made zero changes. This stability and confidence could prove very important.

Cheika has created a siege mentality in the Wallabies camp this week.

First he picked on the Fiji coach saying he was acting in an unprofessional manner and now he’s come out and said that the Wallabies and him in particular are being targeted by World Rugby.

Sometimes this approach can really work but right now it just feels a bit out of place and you wonder if it’s helping or hindering the playing group.

Prediction
This one is tough to call. Both sides have real talent and experience but right now it feels like Wales’ form and belief is better than the Aussies.

The Welsh aren’t known for scoring lots of tries though – if the Aussies can get out in front early then it will be hard to run them down. That being said, Wales feel like the better side.

Wales by 6.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 5:45pm AEST on Sunday.

Where: Tokoyo Stadium, Tokoyoy
Date: Sunday September 29
Kick-off: 5:45pm AEST
TV: Foxsports
Betting: Australia $2.15, Wales $1.70

Australia
15. Dane Haylett-Petty
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
13. James O’Connor
12. Samu Kerevi
11. Marika Koroibete
10. Bernard Foley
9. Will Genia
8. Isi Naisarani
7. Michael Hooper (c)
6. David Pocock
5. Rory Arnold
4. Izack Rodda
3. Alan Alaalatoa
2. Tolu Latu
1. Scott Sio

Replacements
16. Jordan Uelese
17. James Slipper
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Adam Coleman
20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto
21. Nic White
22. Matt Toomua
23. Kurtley Beale

Wales
15. Liam Williams
14. George North
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Gareth Davies
8. Josh Navidi
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Aaron Wainwright
5. Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4. Jake Ball
3. Tomas Francis
2. Ken Owens
1. Wyn Jones

Replacements
16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Dillon Lewis
19. Aaron Shingler
20. Ross Moriarty
21. Tomos Williams
22. Rhys Patchell
23. Owen Watkin

Referee: Romain Poite
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce, Karl Dickson
TMO: Ben Skeen

2019 World Cup Form
Australia – W
Wales – W

All time
Played 42
Australia won 30
Wales won 11
Drawn 1

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