For a long while now, the expectation for many was that tomorrow’s game would decide who will be accompanying England through to the knock-out rounds of this highly entertaining World Cup.
How refreshing for these two sides then, and their fans, that this game is not about that. Instead it will determine who will top the group and who should, therefore, have an easier chance of progression.
There has been an odd feel to the whole thing up to now. Naturally, all the attention has been on the hosts, England. Wales and Australia have had a slightly easier time of it, although Wales’ injury toll has been simply awful. And worryingly, the men the Australians have put before the media have been charm personified. No real barbs aimed elsewhere, just compliments and “We don’t really know what we’re doing” sentiments from coach Cheika, who has only been at the helm for around a year.
Well, if anyone believed that for an instant beforehand, it’s safe to say that after last weekend, the world will have sat up and taken notice. This writer has believed for some time, two things about this group: Australia were always going to be one of the two teams to qualify, and there would be one outright winner.
One down, one to go on that score then. This week Warren Gatland spoke of the “shackles being off” now Wales had achieved their first goal of qualification. To an extent this is true, and with the side that has been selected there appears to be a mixture of the old school hammer, especially with the selection of Jamie Roberts and George North in the centre, but some rapier as well with a back three of Gareth Anscombe, Alex Cuthbert and Liam Williams.
Most intriguing of all though, is the selection of both Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton, alongside Taulupe Faletau in the back row. Tipuric’s performances since the first summer international have been top drawer. When these two men were picked against England in the 6 Nations two seasons ago, Wales came away with a resounding victory and it will be their ability to counteract the work of Sean McMahon and David Pocock at the breakdown that will go some way to deciding the outcome of this game.
What most will highlight though is the size of the midfield Wales have picked – the second biggest, at a combined 34st 7lb, of all time. In Matt Giteau and Tevita Kuridrani, Australia have a playmaker and a bludgeon – an old fashioned 12/13 combination. Wales have gone for that size, and another untested partnership in such a crucial game.
The danger of picking combinations such as this is that a team gets sucked into the trap of believing “if we run down that “little man’s channel” (Giteau) we’ll have a field day. Funnily enough, these are international players who are capable of tackling big blokes all day long. If they aren’t you can be sure as eggs that plans will be made to counteract such simplicity.
With the selection Wales have made, Australia will be expecting a certain style of play. What they will do also, is test Wales themselves. Against England, Wales struggled most when the ball was moved away from the congested areas. When England reverted to type, they didn’t look dangerous at all.
Listening to Mike Ford, Bath defence coach on the radio last night, he made it quite clear that it’s not the defences that are too tight, it’s the mind-set of the attacking coaches that is killing the game right now.
Australia have the ability to produce that little bit of magic – not just once, but three or four times if opposition are intent on playing one way themselves. What Wales must do, is maintain that dogged spirit shown recently in games against England, Ireland in the Six Nations, and South Africa last autumn, but from somewhere they have to pull out that little bit of magic.
It’s a sad indictment on the way Wales have been playing, that many look to Tipuric as the man to produce it. But there are plenty of players capable of match-winning moments in this side. North, although shifted to centre, is still one of them. Williams certainly has that side to him, as does Cuthbert, who at present, unfortunately, is woefully out of form.
When Gatland speaks of the shackles, this isn’t the cue for Wales to start playing Barbarian rugby. It’s the time for the big game players who have stepped forward for Wales and the Lions in the recent past to do so again. To play what Mike Ford and many others describe as “heads-up” rugby. Easier said than done for sure, but now if Wales have any serious aspirations, now is the time to show it.
Captain Warburton said this week the team were disappointed that they didn’t beat a top tier Southern Hemisphere team in the 2011 World Cup. Now is the ideal opportunity to tick that box, having already achieved their goals of beating England and Fiji, something which many pundits thought wouldn’t happen. This of course means they have qualified for the quarter finals with this game in hand – something few people gave Wales any chance of doing.
The camp have consistently spoken of opportunities. Tomorrow is another opportunity for Wales. There’s only so long pundits and fans alike can keep denying the threat posed by this team if they continue to produce results. Time to stand up once again!
Teams
Wales: Gareth Anscombe; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Paul James, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Aaron Jarvis, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Ross Moriarty, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, James Hook.
Australia: Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell; Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Stephen Moore (capt), Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Dean Mumm, Scott Fardy, Sean McMahon, David Pocock.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
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