Preview: Wales v Australia
Wales and Australia have massively contrasting approaches heading into their crucial year-end Test in Cardiff on Saturday.
Australia have been drawn with Wales and England in next year's World Cup, meaning one of that trio will miss out on qualification for the knock-out stages.
Warren Gatland's Wales have had a disastrous run of nine defeats against Australia, many by the smallest of margins, since their last victory in 2008.
But the Kiwi coach has targeted Saturday's Test at the Millennium Stadium as a springboard towards securing a quarterfinal spot in next year's World Cup.
In contrast Wallaby coach Michael Cheika has insisted that his team's Test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday bore no relevance to the 2015 World Cup, which will be based in England but also sees Australia play their pool match against dark horses Fiji in Cardiff.
"I'm just looking at one in a row. I think that's how you look at it at Test level," said Cheika, the only coach to have won a European Cup (Leinster, 20090 and Super Rugby title (Waratahs, 2014).
"People talk about all these streaks nowadays. They're actually pretty irrelevant. The only streak you want to be getting is one in a row, the next one you're playing."
The Australian, who also coached Stade Francais in the Top 14, added: "The marker now for then [World Cup] is irrelevant.
"The marker now is for now, it's for Saturday, that's it. I've never seen a game of rugby that has influence on another game of rugby in 12 months time.
"Everything can change. The marker we want to put down is just in relation to this battle, Wales versus Australia."
Cheika took over the Wallabies after the surprise October 22 resignation of Ewen McKenzie, and guided the team to a 40-36 victory over the Barbarians at Twickenham last week.
But he insists he is not looking further than the Wales game, with matches against France and Ireland to follow.
"I've really tried to stay extremely disciplined at looking just at this game, not even the next one on the tour," he said.
"So much can happen between even now and next week, let alone now and whenever the World Cup's on.
"I'm only going to let the lads down by not focusing on the things that need to be attended to do today to ensure that tomorrow is good quality and Saturday as well."
Cheika also admitted that the media attention his team have garnered since touching down in the northern hemisphere would likely spur them on.
"A lot of people aren't giving us much of a shout in the UK for these matches," he said.
"The guys are hungry, we need to bring consistency at a high level.
"It's going to be up to us to dig our heels in and push to be successful on Saturday."
Gatland is adamant that Saturday's Test is very relevant in terms of next year's World Cup.
"Our whole focus in the next 12 months has to be getting out of our group in the World Cup. That has to be our primary focus," said Gatland, who has led Wales to two Six Nations Grand Slams since taking over in 2007, but has failed to register a victory over either New Zealand or South Africa.
"Although we want to do exceptionally well in the autumn and the Six Nations – and those are important games for us in making sure we perform well – the long-term objective is getting out of that group and making the quarterfinals.
"Rugby changes pretty quickly," Gatland said. "We are pretty aware we have been knocking on the door and put ourselves in situations where -perhaps not against the All Blacks, but definitely against South Africa and Australia – on a number of occasions to win games.
"We have focused on that. We had a pretty honest debrief when we first came in and looked at the second Test in South Africa [in June when Wales were beaten 31-30] and hopefully the things we can learn, make sure that learning takes place and we are a bit more clinical when we get that opportunity again, if it does arise."
Success bred success, Gatland insisted: "Once you do it the first time, it becomes easier the second and the third time. We have got to get across the line and nail one of those victories.
"I think for a nation like Wales and the squad we've got, we feel like we punch massively above our weight.
"When we play these Southern Hemisphere teams now, they come fully-loaded. They don't look at putting second-string sides out against us, and maybe they do that against one or two of the other Six Nations teams.
"When they play Wales, I think there is a sign of respect that there are no second-string players playing against us. We know we are up against the best, and that's exactly how we want it."
Gatland said he expected a "frenetic" game against Australia, who last weekend edged a Barbarians team at Twickenham, and that the players had been put well and truly through their paces.
"The last two weeks have been tough," he said. "The players have trained exceptionally hard.
"We've really looked at the long-term plan in terms of this campaign, the Six Nations and the World Cup. We have run things a little differently in this campaign and in the Six Nations, almost like World Cup camps in terms of long-term preparation and planning."
On the pitch, Gatland said it was a simple matter where the game would be won or lost.
"You have always got to win the battle up-front, that is always the challenge. Australia are a good tough team up-front," he said.
"You can't underestimate them."
Players to watch:
For Wales: The usual backline suspects – fullback Leigh Halfpenny, wing Alex Cuthbert, centre Jamie Roberts and flyhalf Dan Biggar. But most of all you will want to see how George North copes with his shift to the midfield.
For Australia: As always there is Israel Folau with his guile, the power of Tevita Kuridrani, while rookie Sean McMahon will be in the spotlight as well.
Head to head: It is captain against captain, openside flank against openside flank – Sam Warburton (Wales) and Michael Hooper (Australia) – in what will be one of the game's most crucial battlefields, the breakdown. Then there is Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar against Wally pivot Bernard Foley in another crucial battle.
Recent results:
2013: Australia won 30-26, Cardiff
2012: Australia won 14-12, Cardiff
2012: Australia won 20-19, Sydney
2012: Australia won 25-23, Melbourne
2012: Australia won 27-19, Brisbane
2011: Australia 24-18, Cardiff
2011: Australia won 21-18, Auckland (World Cup third/fourth-place play-off)
2010: Australia won 25-16, Cardiff
2009: Australia won 30-12, Cardiff
2008: Wales won 21-18, Cardiff
Prediction: Australia may be on a nine-match winning streak against Wales, but the margin in their last four games were never more than four points – a solitary score. It is likely be another close call, with the Welsh pushing the Wallabies all the way – with Australia snatching a later winner, by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 George North, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Bradley Davies, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Cory Allen.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps; 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements – from: James Hanson, Tetera Faulkner, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Will Skelton, Matt Hodgson, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Rob Horne.
Date: Saturday, November 8
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT; 01.30 AEDT Sunday)
Expected weather: Scattered showers and longer spells of rain. However, an artificial pitch and a closed roof will negate the weather factor. High of 12°C and low of 7°C
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), JP Doyle (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
AFP & @rugby365com
