Adam Ashley-Cooper: Back in Australia starting line-up
Sam Warburton: Issued Welsh rallying-call
Sam Warburton has challenged Wales to rise to the Test and get the better of Australia in their final autumn outing in Cardiff on Saturday.
Wales have lost eight Tests in a row against their rivals who will also be in their pool at the 2015 World Cup, although half of those defeats were by three points or less.
The countries have met on 36 occasions and the Wallabies lead the series 25-10, with one draw – a 29-29 scoreline in Cardiff back in 2006.
The hosts parade 11 players in their starting team this weekend who were part of the Test series-winning British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia earlier this year.
But skipper Sam Warburton believes the Lions’ success will have no bearing on this clash and he has challenged Wales to raise their game and finish with three wins out of four following their opening three November Tests against South Africa, Argentina and Tonga.
If Wales can achieve victory, it would give them three wins in an autumn campaign for the first time since 2002.
Warburton said: “For me, the Lions has no bearing on the match on Saturday. It is for Wales, and the Welsh fans will want to see it as well as the players.
“The players are very confident, and if we can finish this series with three wins out of four then it would be a success compared to last year.
“I have always thought that Wales can’t be called (World Cup) contenders, really, until we beat the southern hemisphere sides.
“It is obviously a big hurdle for Wales, and we have got to desperately try to achieve that this weekend. It would be massive to get a win.”
Cuthbert return
Cardiff Blues wing Alex Cuthbert will return to the Wales team after recovering for an ankle injury.
Elsewhere, flanker Dan Lydiate features in the back row with Justin Tipuric on the bench, while Dan Biggar wins Wales coach Warren Gatland’s fly-half vote ahead of Rhys Priestland, who is among the replacements.
The Wallabies have recalled Adam Ashley-Cooper and Nick Cummins for the clash.
The two backs were among a group of six players handed one-match bans by coach Ewen McKenzie following an inappropriate drinking session prior to the win over Ireland in Dublin a fortnight ago.
Ashley-Cooper will start at outside centre in place of Mike Harris, who drops to the bench, with Cummins back on the wing in place of Chris Feauai-Sautia, who scored a try in the 21-15 win over the Scots at Murrayfield.
Prop Paddy Ryan will serve his one-match ban this week after playing against the Scots, while flanker Liam Gill misses out on the squad altogether.
Front rowers Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson have been named on the bench.
The pack remains unchanged but Dave Dennis and Kane Douglas are named amongst the replacements instead of strong scrummager Sitaleki Timani.
Wales: Halfpenny, Cuthbert, O Williams, S Williams, North, Biggar, Phillips; Jenkins, Hibbard, Rhodri Jones, AW Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Warburton (capt), Faletau
Replacements: Owens, Bevington, Lee, Ryan Jones, Tipuric, R Williams, Priestland, L Williams
Australia: Folau, Tomane, Ashley-Cooper, Leali’ifano, Cummins, Cooper, Slipper, Moore, Kepu, Simmons, Horwill, Fardy, Hooper, Mowen (capt)
Replacements: Polota-Nau, Robinson, Alexander, Douglas, Dennis, White, Harris, Foley
Article source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/debateni/blogs/ireland-rugby-world-cup-bid-lets-not-kick-once-in-lifetime-chance-into-touch-29781297.html
Autumn international: Wales v Australia preview
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