WALES ALL OUT TO WIN RUGBY TEST

23.06.2012
Wales v Australia in Sydney

Venue: Allianz Stadium

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Preview
An unusual event will take place in Sydney today. A rugby test is being played DURING THE DAY! Almost unheard off down under. In the Islands yes, but rarely in Australia and New Zealand. But a test match will take place in Sydney and the kick off is 3pm. My eyes water! It takes me back to my youth when EVERY test match started at 3pm and ALWAYS on a Saturday.

The question is can Wales put the huge disappointment of the last minute loss to Australia last Saturday behind them? Can they come out just as fired as they did last weekend and this time go through with a win? Big questions.

Wales has stuck very much with the team from last weekend, whist Australia has made two changes. Kurtley Beale adds another dimension to fullback whilst Ashley-Cooper moves to the wing replacing Cooper Vuna.

I’ll be glued to the TV.

Last Five Encounters
16.06.2012 Australia 25-23 in Melbourne
09.06.2012 Australia 27-19 in Brisbane
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

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

Australia Last Five
16.06.2012 v Wales W 25-23 in Melbourne
09.06.2012 v Wales W 27-19 in Brisbane
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)

Wales Last Five
16.06.2012 v Australia L 23-25 in Melbourne
09.06.2012 v Australia L 19-27 in Brisbane
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)

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

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 86.77, Wales 82.54

Prediction: Australia’s turn for heart break. Wales to bounce back and win, just, by 2 points

Teams

AUSTRALIA

15		Kurtley Beale	Melbourne Rebels
14		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
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		Sitaleki Timani	NSW Waratahs
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		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
19		David Dennis	NSW Waratahs
20		Michael Hooper	ACT Brumbies
21		Nicholas White	ACT Brumbies
22		Anthony Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
		HEAD COACH: Robbie Deans

WALES

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