Preview: Australia vs Wales

Australia vs Wales: Game Preview

The winner of this game will successfully avoid playing against New Zealand in the quarter-final and prospective semi-final. That’s great incentive to end top of what has been termed the pool of death and pool of hell, and what was the pool of England’s traumatic demise, with its vitriolic fallout.

Having beaten England, Australia will now have to lift themselves to similar heights a week later against their fellow conquerors of the RWC hosts. Wales come off an easier week, cruising to a workmanlike if unimpressive win over Fiji.

The Wallabies have shown doubters they can scrum, that their tight forwards are strong enough, and that teams can still score tries at top Test level from innovation and creativity. They’ve found their first-choice halfback pair, after some hesitation, in Bernard Foley and Will Genia, with Foley silencing his doubters with a magnificent performance at Twickenham. The loss of Michael Hooper to one-match suspension breaks up Australia’s lethal constructive and destructive tandem loose-forward force, but their loose trio remains potent.

The Wallabies have won their last 10 Tests against Wales, which means Wales have never beaten Australia during Warren Gatland’s tenure as Welsh coach – albeit seven of those 10 defeats have been by five points or fewer. And Wales have been hit hard by injuries, both before and during the World Cup. But the Welsh showed superb tactical acumen and huge courage in beating England two weeks ago.

To win, the Wallabies know they will need to be similarly brilliant this Saturday at Twickenham as they were last Saturday at Twickenham. 

Key players:

For Australia, David Pocock, because right now he is the best in the world at what he does, Sean MacMahon gets a potential career-defining opportunity as Hooper’s replacement at openside, and their inside three backs Will Genia, Bernard Foley, and Matt Giteau. For Wales, Dan Biggar, especially for his accurate boot,  George North shifting from wing to outside centre, Gareth Anscombe at 15, making his RWC debut, and scrumhalf Gareth Davies, the only player to play a full 80 minutes for Wales in each of their first three pool games.

The big match-ups:

The game direction and goal-kicking boots of Biggar and Foley. The clash between two universally respected inside centres, Jamie Roberts and Matt Giteau. At 8, Pocock vs Taulupe Faletau, though with differing roles for their teams.