Wales
9
Match Complete
Australia
6
| D. Biggar |  | 76 | ||
| 74 | | M. Toomua | ||
| L. Halfpenny | | 67 | ||
| 33 | | B. Foley | ||
| L. Halfpenny | | 21 |
| 0 | Tries | 0 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 3 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Wallabies will go up against Wales as they look to get their Spring Tour back on track with a win in Europe. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 4:20am AEDT.
While they enjoy a 13 match winning streak over the Welsh, there are many who believe that streak is going to come to an end this weekend.
There has been much discussion about the Wallabies poor record this year – played ten and lost seven certainly doesn’t make good reading. However, it’s worth noting 5 of those 7 losses were to the top two sides in the world (New Zealand and Ireland). So maybe things aren’t all as bad as they seem within the Wallabies?
The team Michael Cheika is putting out on the pitch certainly has plenty of talent. It’s not far off a first choice 15 and it’ll be exciting to see what a back line with Kurtley Beale, Samu Kerevi, Israel Folau and Dane Haylett-Petty can do if they are given some good ball.
It’s good to see Kerevi back in the 13 shirt for the Wallabies. While he’s been out injured, the Aussies really have missed a hard runner who can straighten the backline. If Beale can make sure he doesn’t run sideways too much and cramp Kerevi then the Aussies could find they are able to break the Welsh defensive line and give Folau and Sefa Naivalu some ball in space.
The return of Adam Coleman in the second row should help provide that good fastball for the backs to play with. His power running and general intimidation will be needed in an Aussie pack that has struggled to dominate opponents over the past year.
Hopefully, Coleman can also bring some more reliability to the line out although a lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of Tolu Latu who hasn’t shown as much consistency throwing into the lineout as his teammates would like.
It’ll be exciting to see how the two back rows go at it – both have talent and while Wales are without the talismanic Sam Warburton who announced his retirement from international rugby earlier this year – players like Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric have shown that Wales can still be feared at the breakdown.
The Welsh bench also has a lot of experience eager to get involved – if the game is close in the final 25 minutes this could be crucial.
Prediction
These games have traditionally been pretty tight affairs on the scoreboard – an average of 6 points difference between them over the past eight clashes – and Saturday should be no different. Australia are definitely there for the taking and it feels like this might be the day when the Welsh dragon burns the Wallabies.
Wales to win by 7 points.
Game information
Where: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales
Date: Sunday 11th November 2018
When: Kick off 4:20am (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports, SBS
Betting Wales $1.74, Australia $2.03
Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny
14 George North
13 Jonathan Davies
12 Hadleigh Parkes
11 Josh Adams
10 Gareth Anscombe
9 Gareth Davies
8 Ross Moriarty
7 Justin Tipuric
6 Dan Lydiate
5 Alun Wyn Jones (c)
4 Adam Beard
3 Tomas Francis
2 Ken Owens
1 Nicky Smith
Replacements
16 Elliot Dee
17 Rob Evans
18 Dillon Lewis
19 Cory Hill
20 Ellis Jenkins
21 Tomos Williams
22 Dan Biggar
23 Liam Williams
Australia
15 Dane Haylett-Petty
14 Israel Folau
13 Samu Kerevi
12 Kurtley Beale
11 Sefa Naivalu
10 Bernard Foley
9 Will Genia
8 David Pocock
7 Michael Hooper (c)
6 Jack Dempsey
5 Adam Coleman
4 Izack Rodda
3 Allan Alaalatoa
2 Tolu Latu
1 Scott Sio
Replacements
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Sekope Kepu
18 Taniela Tupou
19 Rob Simmons
20 Ned Hanigan
21 Nick Phipps
22 Matt To’omua
23 Jack Maddocks
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Oliver Matthews
Expert
So here's some thinking: - the coaches are telling them to play a different way and the players then don't execute on the field. It's the players fault and the coaches' fault for continuing to pick those players who can't execute - the players are executing the plan that the coaches set out. It's the coaches' fault for continuing to push such a poor plan. The leaders within the playing group are at fault for not telling the coaches that they need to play a different way or for not adjusting the plan on the field. If you then look at the Cheika reign you see that he had a good first year when he could focus the team on the World Cup and other teams around them delivered poor performances. But then over time it's been shown that Cheika is not the right coach to improve the performance of players or the team in general over an extended period of time. So whichever way you look at the coaches need to go and there need to be changes in the playing group. Surely that is obvious???
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Haha - think 7 of those ten were in the Talking Points article that I wrote after the game. So so true.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Exactly Harry. Well said!
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Well deserved win from the Welsh. Played the smarter game. Actually thought Pocock was MOM but Tipuric certainly played a good game.
Machpants
Roar Guru
Actually you do see the ABs behave like that. After the boks beat them in welly, they chatted and joked together, then the ABs invited the team in to the home changing room for a beer. Normal stuff
Over here
Roar Rookie
They have the 2015 world rugby coach of the year to do that. Where were we rated in 2015? 3rd? Where are we rated now? Case closed. March out the guilty person
Over here
Roar Rookie
We have young guys at #9 who have some game time. Who's the young #10'swho has played some game time? Yes, Chieka hasn't blooded anyone, he brings back toomea who isn't a specialist #10.
Over here
Roar Rookie
Isn't "doing the same thing and hoping for a different result" the definition of insanity? We have an insane coach and it's time for the clown to go back to the circus
Cadfael
Roar Guru
But I have also seen Hooper maligned for aking the three rather thamn go for the try.
Trampas
Guest
I used to get up religiously in the middle of the night to watch these games. Not anymore the way the Wallabies are travelling. Won't even watch the replay after reading match reports and comments out concern for my blood pressure. Why is Cheika still the coach and allowed to be sole selector. WBs have been going backwards for three years since RWC on his watch.
QED
Guest
Perhaps we should all buy tickets to their training sessions as it appears that’s where they win most of their games
QED
Guest
good point well made !
Peter Robinson
Roar Rookie
Yeah, nine time out of ten, that's a yellow card at best now. Kerevi had no chance at the charge-down at should not have done it.
Rickster
Roar Rookie
Well... came all this way .... shocking game. SK and TPN on big screen seen having a laugh after the game with their Welsh counterparts. Very, very disappointing. Shocking attitude... no wonder struggle to improve. Wouldn't see ABs behave like that after losing. Shocking game plan... shocking decisions, shocking skills. But... all that said by many before.... ho hum
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Agreed. Total lack of game awareness. We weren’t in any danger that require we tried to slow it down. Just really soft, stupid play
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I thought Rodda and Coleman carried well. We still wanted to finesse behind the ad line regardless.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
You think we can beat Italy?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
We are consistently awful and getting worse. It would be a mercy if we chopped this coaching group. And rest Hooper. His mind is mush. And Kurtley should have a long rest too. It’s cruel to keep picking him in this form.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
So thanks for your comments and banter - it's been a strange game of rugby and there are many questions raised after this performance that will be discussed in other articles. The Wallabies will travel to Italy now to take them on next week - you'd hope that this should see more points and an Aussie win but then they head to Twickenham. If you haven't seen the England v New Zealand game then do yourself a favour - grab a coffee and a bacon roll, find the match online, settle down and watch an absolute belter of a rugby match. For now I'm signing off and wish you all a very good Sunday!
Jon
Roar Rookie
I guess the best thing to say is better to have the winning streak broken now than during the world cup...not that this side has shown a lot to say that'll be all that competitive next year.