Had: Clobber Oz cobbers

HADLEIGH PARKES is the boyhood Australian cricket fan keen to stump the Wallabies. Warren Gatland’s Wales have lost 13 straight matches against the southern hemisphere giants – but New Zealand-born Parkes thinks they can end their curse. “I grew up fascinated by the Aussie cricket side and the amazing era they had,” he said. “Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath... I loved the whole team. Adam Gilchrist was special, as was their rugby team at that time.”

But, of this weekend’s tie, Parkes insisted: “There’s no reason we can’t put in a good performance and get a result.”