Australia to take anger out on Wales

TOKYO: Australia will look to channel their anger at Reece Hodge’s ban into their performance when they play Wales in today’s Group D blockbuster, coach Michael Cheika said yesterday.

Reprising a theme from his press conference on Friday when he said there was a bit of “us against them” around the winger’s three-match suspension for a high tackle, Cheika said he hoped his team would use the emotion to fire their performance.

“When you feel hard-done-by and one of your players is so upset because he’s not playing ... you can make a meaning to it,” he told reporters at Tokyo Stadium after confirming Australia would not be appealing the ban.

“If you love the game and you’re in the World Cup and you’re representing your country, you want to have a bit of (emotion) going.”

Cheika also returned to another of his earlier lines about Six Nations champions Wales being favourites to beat the twice World Cup winners for only the second time in 15 matches today.

The first win came in Cardiff last November when the home side edged a tight match to snap a 13-march losing streak against the Wallabies.

Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards said he thought today’s match could be another close one.

“I think there will be more points than 9-6, but history tells you there have been a lot of onescore games between us and Australia,” the uncompromising Englishman said.

“That’s why our discipline is so important. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s another one-score game and hopefully, it goes to Wales.”