Preview: Australia v Wales
Wales have packed their team full for experience, while Australia plans to use the same recipe for success in the second Test in Melbourne on Saturday.
It is fantastic to have a Test series on the calendar again with a second bite at the action for all concerned. Of all the Test matches played between the trio of southern rugby powers and their northern rivals, the Australia v Wales clash was the most evenly contested.
While last weekend the Wallabies were worthy victors, the Welsh did enough to have the home crowd hold their breath and fear the worst, especially after the shock of the Scotland defeat earlier in the week.
Many will argue Wales spurned their best chance of victory last weekend, as the Wallabies have had an extra week to prepare and are better organised. However, the counter argument could be that Australia are most vulnerable when they expect an easy victory, once again the Scotland match is the perfect example of this. With their backs against the wall the Australians' pride was hurt and a win against the Six Nations champions was the only remedy.
Wales must now regather their strength with experienced campaigners Matthew Rees, Ryan Jones and Alun Wyn Jones all included in a fearsome pack of forwards. The biggest challenge for the Welsh will be confidence in their own ability.
"After the first Test Australia are obviously in the ascendency, but the tour is not over by any means and we have all to play for on Saturday," Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley said.
For Australia the task will be to build on last weekend's victory and complete a more convincing performance next times out. However, it would be foolish to let Wales back into the series and Wallaby coach Robbie Deans knows just how dangerous the opposition are.
"The Welsh will have seen a lot of opportunity in last weekend's Test," Deans told the media.
"They showed during their Six Nations campaign that they are resilient – twice winning games in the final moments.
"That trait was apparent again in a 12-minute period in Brisbane when they closed from 6-20 to 19-20, to put themselves in a position to win the game after we had made the better start."
Wales must make a stronger start to the match, as they cannot rely on a rallying cry in the second half to propel them to a triumph in every match. There are only so may pep talks skipper Sam Warburton can deliver during half-time before he runs out of speeches.
Warburton himself will need more than just words, but rather his actions to do some talking after struggling to compete with David Pocock at the breakdown in the first Test.
"It was a new experience for a lot of us and it was the quickest game I've played in that first half," Warburton said. "It was a tough lesson but we'll learn from it and improve on it.
"There are a lot of positives. We know we can come out and play the rugby we played in the second half and we have the fitness levels to do it, but ultimately it was the start that killed us really and gave us too much work to do."
Players to watch:
For Australia: The man who made all the difference last weekend was undoubtedly Will Genia, who above anyone else was the real difference between the two side. The nippy scrumhalf was at his best and tore the welsh defence apart with his running game, so he will be closely guarded this time round. Flyhalf Berrick Barnes also had an excellent match and outplayed his opposite number and is the kind of calm customer you want at pivot.
For Wales: Wing Alex Cuthbert is an exciting prospect and looks dangerous every time he touches the ball with an eye for the gap and terrifying acceleration. Scrumhalf Mike Phillips doesn't enjoy being overshadowed and Genia had his number last week, so expect a big effort and a few solo bursts from the Welshman come Saturday. Up front tighthead prop Adam Jones has the power to wreak havoc in the scrums, but he must win his individual battle with Benn Robinson, which is no easy task.
Head to head: The line-out tussle between Nathan Sharpe and Alun Wyn Jones will be interesting, as both men are serious quality in the set-pieces and their aerial duel could be vital. Should Wales' superior scrum dominate the Wallabies, Sharpe's line-out skills will need to offer another avenue for his team. Down the touchline Cooper Vuna and George North will mark each other again. This contest had very little opportunity to be tested last weekend, as North left the field with an injury early on. Both players have size and speed on their side, but North is a better defender and the jury is still out on whether or not Vuna can successfully stop big George in his tracks.
Recent results:
2012: Australia won 27-19, Brisbane
2011: Australia won 24-18, Cardiff
2011: Australia won 21-18, Auckland
2010: Australia won 25-16, Cardiff
2009: Australia won 3012, Cardiff
2008: Wales won 21-18, Cardiff
2007: Australia won 32-20, Cardiff
2007: Australia won 31-0, Brisbane
2007: Australia won 29-23, Sydney
2006: Match drawn 29-29, Cardiff
2005: Wales won 24-22, Cardiff
Prediction: This should be another close encounter with Australia creeping ahead before another Wales revival. Wales can edge a narrow win to level the series at 1-1 and set-up a fascinating finale in the third Test. North to run past/over Vuna and score a try as Wales win by five or less.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Cooper Vuna, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock (captain), 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: Stephen Moore, 17 Ben Alexander, 18 Dave Dennis, 19 Michael Hooper, 20 Nic White, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Mike Harris.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Paul James, 18 Luke Charteris, 19 Justin Tipuric, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Date: Saturday, June 16
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Kick-off: 20.00 (10.00 GMT)
Expected weather: The weather is irrelevant with a closed stadium roof
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
By Timmy Hancox
