RUGBY TEST MATCH: Australia To Make Amends

09.06.2012 Wales v Australia in Brisbane

Venue: Suncorp Stadium



Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Preview
The Welsh are out for revenge. Australia defeated them 21-18 in the playoff 3rd-4th place at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Australia defeated them again in the Cardiff rematch in December.In addition, Australia has constantly heaped humiliation on the Welsh by defeating them comfortably in Cardiff of recent years. Also, Wales has not one a test match in Australia since 1969. Can this Welsh side change rugby history?

Wales arrive in Australia with a huge reputation. Grand Slam winner of the 6 Nations International Championship and one of the exciting yet unsuccessful teams at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, they have done plenty to restore the old Welsh rugby flame.

Like all rugby test teams in June Wales have had to blood some new players. Yet the bulk of that Grand Slam team has arrived in Australia. This surely is a great opportunity for a Northern Hemisphere side to gain a rare victory over a Southern Hemisphere down under. Will Australia be able to hold out the Welsh onslaught?

Australia will be smarting over their loss to Scotland on Tuesday. It wasn’t a poor Australian effort. They had most of the territorial advantage and most of the ball. They just didn’t have enough grunt to punch through the fantastic Scottish defence. So what will be different about Australia tonight?

Australia has kept the halves combination of Genia and Barnes. But the centres will have more zest in McCabe and Horne, plus the experience of Adam-Cooper at fullback.

Palu at number eight and a vastly experienced front row completes an Australian side that looks good all round. Will it be enough to tackle the Welsh?
This is  a very different Welsh side that defeated the Barbarians before they left for Australia. Most of the experienced players are back in the side including their charismatic leader Sam Warburton.

This is going to be one heck of a rugby test match. It’ll be a cracker! It could go either way.

Last Five Encounters
03.12.2011 Australia 24-18 in Cardiff
21.10.2012 Australia 21-18 in Auckland (World Cup, Playoff 3rd-4th)
06.11.2010 Australia 25-16 in Cardiff
28.11.2009 Australia 33-12 in Cardiff
29.11.2008 Wales 21-18 in Cardiff

Wales last defeated Australia in Australia in 1969, winning 19-16 in Sydney.

Australia Last Five
05.06.2012 v Scotland L 6-9 in Newcastle
03.12.2011 v Wales W 24-18 in Cardiff
31.10.2011 v Wales W 21-18 in Auckland (World Cup, Playoff 3rd-4th)
16.10.2011 v New Zealand L 6-20 in Auckland (World Cup, Semi-final)
09.10.2011 v South Africa W 11-9 in Wellington (World Cup, Quarter-final)

Wales Last Five
02.06.2012 v Barbarians (UK) RFC W 30-21 in Cardiff
17.03.2012 v France W 16-9 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
10.03.2012 v Italy W 24-3 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
25.02.2012 v England W 19-12 at Twickenham (6 Nations)
12.02.2012 v Scotland W 27-13 in Cardiff (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings World Table-Australia 3rd, Wales 6th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 87.99, Wales 83.32

Prediction: Australia to bounce back and win, just, by 2 points

Teams



AUSTRALIA

15		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
14		Joseph Tomane	ACT Brumbies
13		Robert Horne	NSW Waratahs
12		Patrick McCabe	ACT Brumbies
11		Digby Ioane	Queensland Reds
10		Berrick Barnes	NSW Waratahs
9		William Genia	Queensland Reds
8		Wycliff Palu	NSW Waratahs
7		David Pocock (Capt.)	WA Western Force
6		Scott Higginbotham	Queensland Reds
5		Nathan Sharpe	WA Western Force
4		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
3		Sekope Kepu	NSW Waratahs
2		Tatafu Polota Nau	NSW Waratahs
1		Ben Robinson	NSW Waratahs
16		Stephan Moore	ACT Brumbies
17		Benjamin Alexander	ACT Brumbies
18		David Dennis	NSW Waratahs
19		Michael Hooper	ACT Brumbies
20		Nicholas White	ACT Brumbies
21		Anthony Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
22		Michael Harris	Queensland Reds
		HEAD COACH: Robbie Deans

WALES

15		Leigh Halfpenny	Cardiff Blues
14		Alexander Cuthbert	Cardiff Blues
13		Jonathan Davies	Llanelly Scarlets
12		Scott Williams	Llanelly Scarlets
11		George North	Llanelly Scarlets
10		Rhys Priestland	Llanelly Scarlets
9		Michael Phillips	Bayonne, France
8		Tobias Faletau	Newport Gwent Dragons
7		Samuel Warburton (Capt.)	Neath Swansea Ospreys
6		Daniel Lydiate	Newport Gwent Dragons
5		Luke Charteris	Newport Gwent Dragons
4		Bradley Davies	Cardiff Blues
3		Adam Jones	Neath Swansea Ospreys
2		Kenneth Owens	Llanelly Scarlets
1		Gethin Jenkins	Cardiff Blues
16		Matthew Rees	Llanelly Scarlets
17		Paul James	Neath Swansea Ospreys
18		Alyn-Wyn Jones	Neath Swansea Ospreys
19		Ryan Jones	Neath Swansea Ospreys
20		Lloyd Williams	Cardiff Blues
21		James Hook	Perpignan, France
22		Ashley Beck *	Neath Swansea Ospreys
		HEAD COACH: Rob Howley (temp.)

* New test cap