Australia v Wales - 2nd Test Preview

Australia and Wales’s first game was a truly epic meeting and a reminder of how high the standard of International rugby is and also how closer the Northern and Southern Hemispheres truly are these days and the second test should be just as tight as the first if anything’s to go by.

Wales, seen by many as the strongest hope of a success down south from the northern hemisphere, were probably a little disappointed with their own performance against the Wallabies, looking notably rusty in the first half of the game when the Wallabies – who had probably come on for the run in a big way after going down 9-6 to Scotland in very unfortunate circumstances – proved to be far too quick and mobile going forward, leading to a 10 point deficit after just 16 minutes, something which they never really recovered from despite whittling the gap down to just a point with 17 minutes to go. That very penalty itself came from an attack which was leading to a certain try but for Rhys Priestland’s coughup, and its moments lie that which are sure to give the Welsh some major hope for this test.

No credit can be taken away from the Wallabies though, with Adam Ashley-Cooper, Will Genia, David Pocock (left) and Scott Higginbotham all having excellent games, underlined by Genia moving to the world class level that saw Australia win the Tri – Nations just after a year ago, creating two tries and scoring himself in exceptional style, while Pocock’s efforts at Flanker were well worthy of the praise that many had been putting on him before the World Cup. The intensity of their forwards was also something that had been a pleasant surprise, with the platform that Genia thrived on creatively also put well forward by Higginbotham and Pocock. Robbie Dean’s men could well have faltered against the late Welsh comeback in the last 20 minutes, but Pat McCabe’s try was no more than they deserved and they’ll be very hard to stop given a similar performance.

Another key factor will also be the improvement that the Welsh can take into this game. A convincing warm up win over the Brumbies in midweek should give the squad some renewed confidence while the return of coach Warren Gatland from injury (he had been absent and stuck in New Zealand thanks to an injury) could improve the mentality of the squad, and if avoiding the major handling errors (23 lost possessions and turnovers conceded) that  turned so many promising attacks into Australian chances that blighted them in the first test, they should feel confident about  their chances of drawing the series level. It’s also interesting to note that only 2 of the starting XV had played a game since the 5^th of May (Warbuton himself went into battle against Pocock having not played since the 6 Nations), and with this Wales’s side always stronger than most upon the point of fitness, the extra week should be crucial. That can see them push Australia closer than ever, but the home side get the call to take the series to 2-0.

Advice

2 pts Australia to win by 1-12 points (7/4 Stan James)

1 pt Australia to win by 1-5 points (5/1 Betfred)