Key events
If you have read one of my blogs before you will know I love a bit of snack chat so do get in touch and let me know what you’re tucking into for this one. I’d also like to hear from you if you think Gatland should remain in charge. You can send me an email to let me know your thoughts.
Michael Aylwin
Another match, another inquest into the state of Welsh rugby. This time, the hand-wringing is particularly fervent, for Wales stand on the brink of an unwanted threshold. Should they lose to Australia in Cardiff on Sunday they will surpass their longest run of Test defeats.
Losing to Fiji last Sunday was upsetting on any number of levels, but the sharpest pain was the fact it was a 10th defeat in a row, equalling the run under Steve Hansen that stretched from 2002 to 2003, the last time they collected the wooden spoon in the Six Nations.
Until this year, of course, when they picked up another after a couple of decades of unrivalled success. Now the Wallabies stride into town, suddenly feeling a bit better about themselves after their own recent travails were eased by a dramatic win against England at Twickenham.
Fiji, Australia, feeling better about themselves – these are all achingly familiar terms to Wales, whose recent travails extend back a few years, but were temporarily eased by their World Cup, or at least their pool campaign. Wales negotiated that without mishap, riding their luck against Fiji in the opener in one of the games of the tournament, before fairly dismantling Australia. See? Easy.
Read the full piece:
Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said on Wales’ bad run: “I’m sure Warren is feeling some pressure, just like any international coach. He was obviously highly successful in his previous tenure with Wales.
“He was successful with Wasps. I think anyone can have a lean spell, when teams are transitioning. I look at some of the players he had when I first started competing with Ireland against Wales.
“There are some good players there now like Adam Beard, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright and Dewi Lake to name but a few. There is a period of time that it takes for them to adjust to Test rugby. That’s part of that transition Gats is trying to accelerate at the moment.”
Some have been questioning whether Warren Gatland should remain in charge with the current run of results. The head coach was asked about his job speculation: “We’ve tried to point out from the outset we need to go through some pain. I didn’t think there’d be this much pain.
“There have been games where we haven’t been able to get over the finishing line and some close fixtures. If a decision is made in terms of what you’re talking about [Gatland’s future], I’m more than comfortable with that. I’ve been around the game for long enough.
“I’ll probably go back to the beach, have a glass of wine and enjoy myself away from some of the pressure!”
Some painful stats for Wales fans. Wales have not won a game since they beat Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage. The team are at their lowest world ranking at 11th and they will hit their worst ever losing run if they fall to defeat today. Since Warren Gatland re-joined the side in December 2022 he has won just six of 22 games.
More here on Suaalii being dropped to the bench:
The team news is here. Wales make four changes from their defeat last week.
Ellis Bevan starts in place of the injured Tomos Williams and Tom Rogers is in for Mason Grady. Warren Gatland has also replaced both flankers with Jac Morgan and James Botham coming in.
Wales: Winnett; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Murray; Anscombe, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Rowlands, Beard, Botham, Morgan, Wainwright.
Subs: Elias, N Smith, Assiratti, Tshiunza, Reffell, R Williams, Costelow, James.
Australia, meanwhile, make six changes from last weekend with the big news being Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii dropping to the bench. Samu Kerevi starts ahead of him with the other new faces being Nic White, Seru Uru, Will Skelton, Max Jorgenson and Allan Alaalatoa.
Rob Valetini and Kerevi will win their 50th caps.
Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Ikitau, Kerevi, Jorgensen; Lolesio, White; Bell, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Frost, Skelton, Uru, McReight, Valetini
Subs: Paenga-Amosa, Slipper, Nonggorr, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Suaalii
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Wales v Australia which could put the hosts in the record books for a reason they want to avoid.
Wales have lost 10 Test in a row and if they lose to the Wallabies today it will be their longest-ever run without a win. Last weekend they lost Fiji, a game where Fiji won for the first time in Cardiff. This weekend they face a buoyant Australia team who come into the match after beating England last time out.
The hosts today have also been hit with a few injuries. Mason Grady went off injured last weekend and his ankle issue means he cannot play this afternoon. Tomos Williams has also been ruled out.
There is a surprise benching in the Australia camp which we will dive into next as the team news is already available. We’ll also take a look at what has been said in the build-up to the game before kick-off at 4.10pm GMT.
