Jones wary of fast start as Wales bid to end Australia’s winning run

Wales captain alunwyn jones has underlined the importance of shutting down Australian momentum today.

The Wallabies have been on a roll against Wales since 2008, winning 13 successive Tests.

Jones is the only starting XV survivor this weekend from Wales’ 21-18 victory ten years ago, when tries by Shane Williams and Lee Byrne left Australia reeling.

“You know Australia are always going to attack from anywhere,” said Jones, ahead of the latest Principality Stadium meeting.

“With the players they have, they can spark up a moment of individual brilliance and they marry that with a decent pack. They always come and pose a threat and it will be no different this weekend.

“It’s key to shut down their momentum. If they get an early score, then you need to chase the game.

“Especially against a team like Australia, who have that counter-attacking ability, you just don’t want to get in a hole against them early on. In international rugby you can’t get that back so we need to be switched on and start well.”

Wing Josh Adams and lock Adam Beard – two of the players who starred during Wales’ successful summer Test series against Argentina – are rewarded with starts.

But the strength of Wales’ replacements bench – one that contains Lions Dan Biggar and Liam Williams, plus two Test skippers in Cory Hill and Ellis Jenkins – could ultimately underpin the bid for victory.

Captain Michael Hooper wants Australia to shelve their inconsistency as they target that 14th successive victory against Wales.

But they arrived in Cardiff following a poor 2018 that has seen them win just three Tests.

“It has been an inconsistent year for us, so we have got to change that around,” Hooper said.

“We use that word consistency a lot and that is what we are chasing and working towards.

“There have been tough times this year and good times, and we want good times to continue on this trip.”