The world has got very ugly for the Wallabies since their loss to Fiji, and will get worse unless they bring the mongrel, determination and smarts needed to beat Wales.
Week three of the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be defined by four fascinating games, and once again Australia will be the most crucial one of them when the Wallabies take on Wales in Lyon on Monday at 5am AEST. For the army of close to 30,000 Australian supporters descending upon France’s gastronomic capital, they probably weren’t expecting that the third match of a potential seven would already be, in effect, a live or die affair.
But that won’t be easy. Wales are fresh and on the high ground, having cleverly gambled in week two by resting 12 of their starting team after their brutal week one victory against Fiji. Wales eventually won 28-8 with a bonus point against Portugal, in a much closer game than the scoreline indicated.
All this will have to be done without key forwards. Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou remain out, though giant tighthead prop Pone Fa’amausili is back from a calf injury. Word from inside the camp is that there are question marks over Rob Valetini’s fitness, and Tupou’s calf injury could be worse than first thought. Don’t be surprised if the player called up to replace unlucky Max Jorgensen, who broke his leg in training, is a front rower.
One clear area of superiority for Ireland is in goal kickers – Johnny Sexton at age 38 is the highest points scorer in the history of Irish Rugby, with 1090 points. He will be pitted against either Manie Libbok or Damian Willemse from the Springboks.
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