Wales v Australia preview

  1. Home
  2. Latest News

Dan Biggar and Alex Cuthbert have been named in Wales’ starting XV to face at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Cuthbert, who recovered from an ankle injury, takes over from Hallam Amos on the right wing while Biggar comes in at fly-half for James Hook.
Scott Williams has recovered from a toe injury to be named in the midfield alongside centre Owen Williams, who scored in last Friday’s laborious 17-7 win over Tonga.
Up front, Gethin Jenkins and Ricarhd Hibbard return to the front-row while duo Ian Evans and Alun-Wyn Jones renew their partnership in the second-row.
There are three more in the back-row will the familiar faces of Dan Lydiate, and Toby Faletau all starting.
“It’s great to have Alex and Scott available and they bring a lot of experience into the backline,” said head coach .
“Alex and the medical teams have worked really hard to ensure he is ready for this weekend and it’s great to be able to bring him back into the side.
“We thought Owen (Williams) performed well in the centre against Tonga and he gets another opportunity on Saturday.
“There is a lot of experience in the pack for what is going to be a very physical game. We are looking to finish the series off well, the last three games against Australia have gone right down to the wire and I don’t expect anything different this weekend.”
Meanwhile, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins make their return for the after being suspended by the Australian management last week against Scotland following a boozy night in Dublin.
Ashley-Copper returns at outside centre pushing Christian Leali’ifano to No.12 with Cumminsv on the left wing in place of youngster Chris Feauai-Sautia  who is dropping out of the squad.
The pack is unchanged but hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, prop Benn Robinson, lock Kane Douglas, back-rower Dave Dennis all join the replacements bench.
The game will also be Quade Cooper’s 50th cap for the Wallabies.
“To get to 50 games is an outstanding achievement and it’s fitting that he reaches the milestone at the end of a really good individual season,” Ewen McKenzie said.
“He has really enjoyed the responsibility of playing at 10 for Australia. He is a very proud guy and proud of his involvement. This team is very important to him and I’m personally quite pleased for him. But, he won’t be too caught up in the milestone externally, his focus will be on how he fits into the team and his responsibility of managing this game.”
“I think everyone will be extremely motivated by the circumstances of the game and the opportunity to play Wales in their backyard. For us to finish on a high would be good reward for a lot of the hard work being done.
“There has been a lot of change and different things happening, so for the guys to push through that has been terrific.”
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Owen Williams, Scott Williams, ; , Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard, Rhodri Jones; Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Evans; Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Capt.), Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, Liam Williams.
Australia: Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu; Rob Simmons, James Horwill; Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (Capt.).
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley.

Exit mobile version