Time to beat the Aussies, says Wales" Richard Hibbard

“We are a bit wiser, and we have been through some good experiences and been together a long time. Teams from the southern hemisphere have been a mental hurdle because they are always so tough to beat. But, having won in Australia with the Lions and been so close with Wales, the hurdle isn’t there any more.”

Free of injury, Hibbard has played his best rugby throughout this year for Wales and the Lions.

“When the Lions overcome Australia, we battered them for 60 minutes and that was the end of it. They couldn’t survive after that,” he said. “We have to bring that ferocity again. It was one of those situations where you don’t want to walk off the pitch. You’re willing to crawl off.

“It was the same against England. But since the Lions, Australia are virtually a different team. This will be the toughest of the past four years.”

Hibbard included, there could be as many as 10 of this year’s Lions party lining up on Saturday, with Alex Cuthbert recovering from ankle worries.

Ospreys lock James King has been added to the squad, with Luke Charteris being reclaimed by Perpignan along with James Hook. Paul James is back at Bath.

But Lions wing George North has the contractual release from Northampton to remain whatever Premiership Rugby think about it.

Ireland hooker Rory Best will miss most, possibly all, of the Six Nations after breaking an arm during Sunday’s loss to the Kiwis in Dublin.

Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/9042264/autumn-internationals-wales-wing-alex-cuthbert-could-face-australia

Time to beat the Aussies, says Wales" Richard Hibbard