Lydiate in line to face Aussies
Wales flank Dan Lydiate is set to face Australia in Saturday's Test, despite his lack of game-time this season.
Lydiate, who will leave French club Racing Metro after the November internationals, has been scarcely used either in France's Top 14 or the European Champions Cup this term.
But it is thought that he could start against the Wallabies in Cardiff when Wales look to halt a slide of nine successive defeats against their 2015 World Cup pool rivals.
"To be honest, since he [Lydiate] has come in, he looks nearly as fit as he was at World Cup [2011]," Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards said.
"I know his match fitness is probably not up, but his general all-round conditioning is at a level I have not seen from him probably since he won the 2012 Six Nations player of the tournament."
Lydiate seems set to start in the back row alongside skipper Sam Warburton and No.8 Taulupe Faletau, when Wales head coach Warren Gatland announces his line-up on Tuesday.
But there is still no clear-cut decision on the fitness of centres Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams, who suffered shoulder and hamstring injuries, respectively, during Champions Cup games last month.
"They [Davies and Williams] both took a part in training today [Monday], but as regards them being available for the weekend we can't make a decision on that yet because we need to see more of them," Edwards added.
Wales have not beaten Australia since November 2008, although five of those nine losses were by four points or less.
"We have spoken about trying to get over the line against one of the southern hemisphere Tri-Nations teams," Edwards said.
"If I am honest, I would be a lot more worried if we were getting beaten by 25 or 30 [points], but there is no doubt that it would be great to have a victory.
"I have come from a background where I have been trying to beat Australia since I was 17, so I know those victories are very hard to come by and you have to work very hard for them."
Source: AFP
