Australia vs Wales Preview & Prediction | 2024 Summer Internationals
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The Welsh have lost their last eight games in a row and all the signs point towards it becoming nine against the Wallabies
START DATE/TIME: Saturday 13th July, 2024, UK – 10:45am / US ET – 5:45am / US PT – 2:45am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Action / US – the match will be streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – SkyGo app / US – the match will be streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
AUSTRALIA FORM: SCHMIDT GETS NEW ERA OFF TO WINNING START
If there was an elite nation that Joe Schmidt could have picked to get his tenure as new Wallabies head coach off to a positive start, it would likely have been Wales and so it proved. They picked up a handy 25-16 win in Sydney and will be confidence of double downing on that here.
LAST FIVE: WWLLW
WALES FORM: WELSH ON TRACK FOR UNWANTED RECORDS
The Welsh have now lost their last eight matches and they are edging ever closer to their worst-ever run which was a ten-match losing streak back in 2002-2003 under Steven Hansen. Snapping this will be easier said than done however with the inexperienced group at Gatland’s disposition.
LAST FIVE: LLLLL
AUSTRALIA TEAM NEWS: SLIPPER HANDED CAPTAINCY
Liam Wright has been ruled out with injury so that means veteran James Slipper will captain the Wallabies for the 15th time. Wright’s injury hands an opportunity for talented youngster Charlie Cale to get his first start. Taniela Tupou has been passed fit after picking up a knock last weekend and he will start.
SQUAD:
15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 James Slipper (c)
REPLACEMENTS:
16 Josh Nasser, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Nic White, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Dylan Pietsch
WALES TEAM NEWS: ENFORCED CHANGES FOR GATLAND’S STRUGGLING SIDE
Warren Gatland’s struggling side have been dealt a blow with two injuries to Josh Hathaway and Aaron Wainwright so that sees Cameron Winnett and James Botham come into the starting line-up. Liam Williams and Gareth Thomas have been passed fit after both being forced off last weekend as they aim to battle through this Test.
SQUAD:
Cameron Winnett; Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer; Ben Thomas, Ellis Bevan; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin, Christ Tshiunza, Dafydd Jenkins, James Botham, Tommy Reffell, Taine Plumtree
REPLACEMENTS:
Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O'Connor, Cory Hill, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow, Nick Tompkins
AUSTRALIA VS WALES PREDICTION
Wales and Warren Gatland are desperate to snap this miserable losing streak – one that neither the team nor head coach are accustomed to handling. However, it is hard to see that happening here against a motivated Australian side who are fired up in their resurgence themselves. Schmidt’s side did well with very few days’ together and with another week under their belts, a further improvement is still to come. It is hard to see much improvement from the Welsh, albeit they have a young team that has plenty more to develop. That all points towards the hosts picking up another win here and do not be surprised if it is double digits.
AUSTRALIA VS WALES TIP: AUSTRALIA TO WIN BY 10+ POINTS
