Wales stay calm before the storm
Have Australia had their England moment? Four years ago for their World Cup pool match against Wales at Twickenham, England selected Owen Farrell at first-five in a team designed specifically to counter the Welsh threat.
Much was made about the inclusion of Sam Burgess at second-five, but that was only because Jonathan Joseph was injured. Farrell – on the bench for the first match against Fiji – was always going to replace George Ford because England were worried about Jamie Roberts running at him.
When the Wales players heard the England team, a quiet confidence emerged. England were more concerned about Wales than their own game. And we all know what happened there.
You wonder whether there were similar feelings on Friday. It is not exactly the same scenario – Roberts is here as a TV pundit rather than a player – but Australia have made four backline changes after beating Fiji for today’s clash with Wales in Tokyo, and though one is enforced by Reece Hodge’s ban, the others it seems are with Wales’ game plan, particularly their kicking, in mind.
Kurtley Beale’s susceptibility under the high ball at fullback sees him benched, with Dane Haylett-Petty coming in, and Bernard Foley’s shock return at No 10 looks like a realisation that the game will be tight and a better goalkicker is required.
Recalls for Will Genia at halfback and Adam Ashley-Cooper on the wing scream of experience being needed. Ashley-Cooper has not lost in 13 matches against Wales. Genia’s only defeat in 12 was the match last autumn that halted Wales’ run of 13 defeats against Australia.
‘‘It’s a sign of respect,’’ Wales head coach Warren Gatland said. ‘‘That’s how far we’ve come as a team. With Beale [not starting] they lose a bit of their attacking threat. With Foley there they will probably kick a bit more.
‘‘Probably with the back three, and Foley and Genia as well, they will try to negate our kicking threat. We are pretty good with [Dan] Biggar at 10 and we have been pretty good in the air and that was probably where we got an advantage over them last November [in the 9-6 win in Cardiff].’’
There has been a remarkably relaxed air about Wales all week. If they are worried about Australia, they are not showing it, although David Pocock is enough to worry anyone, especially as a twin threat with Michael Hooper.
‘‘We did a good job last year on Hooper,’’ Gatland said. ‘‘He had about 12 attempts against us trying to steal the ball and he did not get any. Pocock was a different story. He had about 10 attempts and got about five. He is a big threat for us and it is something we must focus on.’’
Wales are unchanged from the side that started the win over Georgia, with one change on the bench, where Owen Watkin replaces Leigh Halfpenny.
There was clearly a selection debate about bringing in Ross Moriarty for Aaron Wainwright in the back row, and Nicky Smith for Wyn Jones at loosehead prop, but Gatland has shown faith in the side that went 29-0 up at halftime against Georgia.
‘‘We had a good debate about the loose forwards and whether we started Ross Moriarty,’’ he said. ‘‘We thought Wyn Jones scrummaged exceptionally well and our scrum was very good considering we come to this World Cup thinking they [Georgia] had one of the strongest scrums.’’
As for Wainwright, who turned 22 on Wednesday, a more detailed viewing of the Georgia game revealed that he did more than first thought, teaming up effectively with Josh Navidi – Wainwright making the chop tackles and Navidi quickly over the ball. ‘‘We just felt he deserved that opportunity after that first game and hopefully we are looking for him to be a bit more vocal,’’ Gatland said. ‘‘We want him to get his hands on the ball because I don’t think people realise how explosive he is.’’
For Alun Wyn Jones, the captain, this will be his 130th cap for Wales, passing Gethin Jenkins’ record, and his 139th international cap in all, including British and Irish Lions tests, equalling George Gregan in fourth place on the all-time list.
There were laughs aplenty at Friday’s press conference when
‘‘We want him [Aaron Wainwright] to get his hands on the ball because I don’t think people realise how explosive he is.’’ Wales coach Warren Gatland
Gatland was asked about Jones, who was sitting alongside him.
‘‘Do you want me to go outside?’’ Jones joked before Gatland gave an insight.
‘‘Since he’s been captain we don’t have as many fights at training because he used to start most of them,’’ he said. ‘‘People who get to the top have a drive and a desire to want to be successful and he’s definitely done that.’’
Jones might not have been starting the fights in training but they have still been feisty affairs. ‘‘There have been a few guys frustrated with selection, which is a good thing,’’ Jones said. ‘‘That breeds competitiveness within the squad. There was a bit of red stuff flowing yesterday, which was all well meant because it was for the betterment of the team.’’
Wales seem ready. They need to be. This match will surely define their World Cup.
– The Times, London