Having now slumped to 10-losses in succession, it’s difficult seeing how struggling Wales can get past a resolute Wallabies side at the Principality Stadium on Sunday. Shaun Goosen previews.
Autumn Nations Series
Wales v Australia
Sunday 17 November – 16:10
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
The wheels have well and truly come off for Warren Gatland’s Wales. Having failed to win any of their Six Nations, Gatland has presided over a heavy defeat against the Springboks and back-to-back losses against the Wallabies in the middle of the year. However, a 24-19 loss at home against Fiji last week – their 10th defeat in a row – has the Kiwi coach’s back up against the wall. The Dragons now face the prospect of a fired-up Wallabies outfit at the Principality.
To Win Match
Wales 19/10 | Draw 20/1 | Australia 4/9
Wales’s 19-24 loss to Fiji last week means it has now been over a year since their last Test victory, which came against lowly Georgia in the pool stages of the 2023 World Cup. The Dragons are well and truly in the doldrums, ranked lower now (11th) than ever before on the world rankings and with Gatland under intense scrutiny.
Many over the past week, including Jamie Roberts and Mike Phillips, two of Gatland’s best players during his first stint in charge, have been scathing in their assessment of the current state of the team. The common consensus is that the man once regarded as arguably Wales’s best-ever coach simply has to move on, with another winless Six Nations campaign just unthinkable for one of the game’s great nations.
If things weren’t bad enough, they tackle an Australian outfit flying high following their last-minute escapades at Twickenham a week ago.
Max Jorgensen’s late try snatched the Wallabies a dramatic 42-37 result over England for just their fifth win this year. Two of those victories came against the Welsh during their two-game tour Down Under in July, with Australia picking up wins in Sydney (25-16) and Melbourne (36-28) to avenge their 6-40 Lyon defeat at the World Cup.
It could be too early to say, but Joe Schmidt’s boys may just have turned a corner in London. In any case, they’ll head into this Cardiff clash brimming with confidence and ready to right more wrongs after what has been a thoroughly difficult season.
Verdict: Wallabies 4/9
Get on Australia to pile more misery on Gatland’s Wales with a second win up north.
