Wales to play 'big three' again in 2014
Dec 04, 2013 (AFP) - Wales will play the southern hemisphere's 'big three' again in the 2014 end of year internationals, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announced Thursday.
World champions New Zealand, South Africa and Australia will all visit the Millennium Stadium in November together with Fiji.
Wales lost to both South Africa and Australia last month, part of a woeful record of 22 defeats in their last 23 Tests against the SANZAR ( South Africa, New Zealand and Australia) trio under coach Warren Gatland.
They've suffered 18 con- secutive defeats by the big three since beating Australia back in 2008, with the Wallabies winning their last nine internationals against 2015 World Cup pool rivals Wales, the reigning Six Nations champions.
Next year's matches against New Zealand, Australia and Fiji will all take place during the International Rugby Board's 'window' for November Tests, with South Africa, as was the case with the Wallabies this year, the fourth match of the programme.
All four fixtures are subject to IRB approval.
“We have consistently said, if you want to be the best, you have to play the best and the 2014 autumn schedule reconfirms that commitment,” said WRU chief executive Roger Lewis in a statement issued Wednesday.
“We have just witnessed another exhilarating, tough autumn series and next year will be ideal preparation for the squad ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.