| Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 20 November Kick-off: 17:30 GMT |
| Protection: Stay textual content commentary on the BBC Sport web site and app. Stay commentary BBC Radio Cymru, updates on BBC Radio Wales. |
Wales end their Autumn Nations Collection marketing campaign by tackling Australia in Cardiff on Saturday, with each groups determined for victory of their closing recreation of 2021.
Wayne Pivac’s aspect will hope to enter the defence of their Six Nations title subsequent 12 months with a 3rd successive victory over Australia and even-up their autumn marketing campaign outcomes tally.
It began with a heavy defeat in opposition to New Zealand, earlier than a slender loss to world champions South Africa after which victory over Fiji.
Australia, below the tutelage of one other New Zealander Dave Rennie, might be hoping to keep away from a European tour clear sweep of losses, after being narrowly crushed by Scotland and outplayed by England.
4 consecutive wins in opposition to South Africa and Argentina within the Rugby Championship appears a distant reminiscence now.
The Wallabies claimed 13 successive wins in opposition to Wales between 2009 and 2017, with eight of these victories being in Cardiff, however Wales have received the final two, together with a 2019 World Cup pool recreation.
Some have written the match off as an end-of-year fixture with little to be enthused by. Time will inform however each camps will vehemently disagree with that evaluation.
Pivac’s half-term report
It’s two years this month since Pivac formally succeeded his fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland as Wales head coach, and he has now reached the midway level of a four-year World Cup cycle.
There have been contrasting fortunes, with Pivac’s Check report exhibiting 9 wins, one draw and 11 defeats.
After a poor begin, he masterminded a Six Nations title triumph final season when Wales have been simply seconds away from additionally attaining a Grand Slam.
The countdown to France 2023 is nicely and actually below means and there’s little doubt Pivac has elevated Wales’ taking part in energy in depth forward of subsequent 12 months’s schedule.
Australia are as soon as once more in Wales’ World Cup group, so it will characterize an opportunity to put down a marker for either side two years out from the subsequent international match.
Workforce information
Neither aspect might be at full energy this weekend for the 2021 finale. Pivac has made seven personnel adjustments this week, with quantity eight Aaron Wainwright, prop Tomas Francis and wing Josh Adams returning after being dominated out of the Fiji victory.
Scrum-half Tomos Williams, lock Seb Davies, prop Wyn Jones and centre Willis Halaholo additionally begin. There isn’t a room for British and Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies who captained the crew in opposition to South Africa, with flanker Ellis Jenkins once more main the aspect.
Wales have suffered extra damage woes this week, with WillGriff John and Will Rowlands dominated out by means of head accidents so as to add to a prolonged listing.
So the autumn collection has been a testing one to say the least, with accidents affecting the squad earlier than and through what was all the time going to be a punishing programme – with Pivac doubtlessly fielding 39 gamers within the 4 video games.
The casualty rely runs nicely into double figures, with Lions Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, George North, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi, Ross Moriarty, Dan Lydiate and Leigh Halfpenny all sidelined.
Australia are with out talisman and 118 times-capped skipper Michael Hooper, lacking on account of a foot damage, with prop James Slipper taking up the captaincy.
Pete Samu replaces Hooper at openside flanker, with hooker Tolu Latu, tight-head prop Taniela Tupou and left wing Filipo Daugunu all recalled.
Wing wonders
There might be a lot consideration on the 2 opposing quantity 14s, with Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit and Andrew Kellaway each nominated this week for World Rugby’s breakthrough participant of the 12 months award.
Kellaway is one in every of Australia’s most important attacking weapons, with fly-half Quade Cooper, centre Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete lacking the tour.
Rees-Zammit, 20, scored a spectacular strive that helped drive Wales over the ending line in opposition to Fiji, outstripping the opposition defence on a 60-metre dash as he chased his personal kick.
Few gamers in world rugby possess Rees-Zammit’s tempo and there’s an pleasure that pumps by means of the Principality Stadium each time he has the ball in area.
Comparisons with Wales’ report try-scorer Shane Williams will inevitably be made, however whereas Rees-Zammit continues to be at a fledgling stage of his Check profession, there seems no restrict to what he may obtain.
What they are saying
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac: “Australia might be very harmful. Dave Rennie, like every coach, is a proud man and he’ll need to rectify these losses.
“They’ve come off an extended season. They will be taking a look at it like us. Yet another large effort. Understanding Dave, he’ll have them wound up and taking part in proper on the sting, identical to Dave Rennie sides all the time are.”
Australia head coach Dave Rennie: “I do know Wayne nicely. We have coached in opposition to one another in New Zealand and Wales. He is a superb man. Stephen Jones, who was with Wayne on the Scarlets – you may see his imprint on the sport. I’ve labored with Jonathan Humphreys (at Glasgow) and he needs to play an open model of footy too. You possibly can actually see they’re attempting to place their stamp on the sport.”
“They’ve had a few losses and located their well past Fiji on the weekend. We have not carried out in addition to we have wanted to within the earlier two Assessments and we’re eager to make up for it.”
Line ups
Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, Tompkins, Halaholo, Adams; Biggar, T Williams; W Jones, Elias, Francis, Beard, S Davies, Jenkins (capt), Basham, Wainwright.
Replacements: Dee, G Thomas, Lewis, Carter, Tshiunza, G Davies, Priestland, McNicholl.
Australia: Beale; Kellaway, Ikitau, Paisami, Daugunu; O’Connor, White; Slipper (capt), Latu, Tupou, Arnold, Rodda, Leota, Samu, Valetini.
Replacements: Fainga’a, Bell, Alaalatoa, Skelton, Swinton, McDermott, Foketi, Wright.
Match officers
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU).