Wales call on giant to help end hoodoo
Warren Gatland has enlisted a 6ft 10in lock nicknamed after legendary wrestler Andre the Giant to help Wales finally flatten their Australia hoodoo. Adam “Andre” Beard, 22, will start at the Principality Stadium tomorrow, and when asked what attributes he brings, the head coach was characteristically straightforward.
“You can’t coach someone to be 6ft 10in and 20st – that helps for a start,” he said. “He is a player for the future, he has got some real skills. He’s a good line-out forward, he’s just going to get better and better.”
Beard will partner Ospreys teammate Alun Wyn Jones in the second row and although the young man was impressive on the summer tour to Argentina, it was something of a surprise that Cory Hill was demoted to the bench in one of three changes to the starting XV who beat Scotland last weekend.
However, Gatland has also placed Dan Biggar and Liam Williams in reserve – with Gareth Anscombe retained at fly-half and Josh Adams earning the nod at wing – and he admitted that the plan was for these to be lions lying in wait for the possibly definitive closing stages.
“It is definitely one of the strongest benches we have had for a long time and there was definitely talk about the importance of the impact they can have in this particular game,” Gatland said.
In the 13-match, 10-year losing run to the Australians, Wales have often been knocked out by late sucker punches. “We’re disappointed with that streak,” Gatland said. “The difference between us and them on average over that period has been something like seven points, less than a score in it. Unfortunately, in some of those we have conceded points in the final minutes having been ahead.”
Gatland actually won his first encounter against Australia as Wales coach, back in 2008. “It was nice but I can’t remember a lot,” he said. “To be honest, I’ve been pretty gutted since, being in positions to win and then throwing them away. We should have beaten Australia a few times, but it’s just being clinical in those last few minutes.
“We’ve been going through a number of those scenarios, when we haven’t read a certain pressure situation, where we’ve given away stupid penalties, or where we haven’t defended smartly.
“This game against them is definitely important for us from a confidence point of view but it is not the most important, the pool game at next year’s World Cup is going to be. But there seems to be a real mood in the squad and a certain amount of self-belief.“
The bookies concur, remarkably making the Welsh favourites despite their torrid record against their rivals. In fairness, Gatland’s men have won six on the bounce, while Australia have lost five of their last seven.
Their coach, Michael Cheika, is clearly under pressure and yesterday rolled the dice by handing Tolu Latu his second Test start at hooker. Highly-rated lock Adam Coleman returns after missing their defeat by New Zealand two weeks ago.
Wales