Preview: Wales vs. Australia

This weekend, Wales face Australia at Cardiff’s Principality (Millennium) Stadium in their opening clash of the autumn internationals series. The Reds, who are missing coach, Warren Gatland, will take to the field with Rob Howley at the helm, hoping to stave off a sixth straight defeat in all competitions.

"Two Welsh Dragons" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by zoonabar

It was a rough summer for Wales. After losing 13-27 to England, the side capitulated before a nigh-invincible All Blacks team, going down 21-39 at Eden Park. They were humiliated 7-40 by New Zealand’s Chiefs, then lost to the All Blacks once again, 22-36. A third encounter with New Zealand ended exactly as everybody expected, at 6-46.

Wales haven’t been seen since.

Saturday’s fixture with the Wallabies marks Wales’ first outing in four months, but the side hasn't benefited from the rest. A press conference held early on Monday announced that captain, Sam Warburton, will be sent home to the Cardiff Blues after failing a fitness test. The 28-year-old has been struggling with a neck injury.

Shaun Edwards, Wales’ defense coach, went on to announce that fullback, Liam Williams, is a doubt for the Test match with Australia, following an ankle problem. Taulupe Faletau (knee) is also out and has been for some time, with Ross Moriarty or Dan Baker expected to fill his boots. Wales’ team announcement for the weekend has since been delayed to Thursday.

The likelihood is now that Alun Wyn Jones will don the mantle of Captain in Warburton’s stead (although Dan Lydiate and Gethin Jenkins are both in with a shout), while Justin Tipuric will probably fill the vacant openside flanker role. It’s not a monster change on paper but, against a team they haven’t beaten in eleven encounters, it’s not the best start.

"Sam Warburton, Welsh captain. Wales Gran" (CC BY 2.0) by National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru

Saturday could have been an opportunity for Wales. The Wallabies are shaky, with three wins in eleven, and they took a 10-37 beating in Auckland just over a week ago. They’re also not a particularly memorable side even on their day but - let’s be honest - neither are Wales, who haven’t won a game since the Six Nations.

Plus, it would be unfair to Australia to chalk that Bledisloe Cup loss up to anything but simple inevitability; the Kiwis aren’t exactly operating on the same level as the rest of the world right now, with 18 wins on the bounce. New Zealand are odds-on in the rugby betting for another four before the end of the month.

Australia is close to full-strength following David Pocock’s return from injury, a development that repairs the backrow pairing of the Brumbies’ Number Eight and Michael Hooper. However, the Wallabies are still reconstructing following last year’s painful loss to New Zealand in the World Cup and playing newcomers like Reece Hodge and Dane Haylett-Petty is a huge part of that rebuild.

With both sides struggling to find form this year, a win on Saturday would be a much-needed confidence boost for the victor. The smart money is on Australia; Wales are too out-of-shape to down Michael Cheika’s Wallabies, and the Reds aren’t exactly known for their previous successes against the Aussies.

Elsewhere, the USA play the Māori All Blacks on Friday, while Saturday will see Japan take on Argentina. Also on the fifth, Ireland play New Zealand and South Africa face invitational side, the Barbarians.

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