Wales are leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to beat the Wallabies in Australia for the first time since 1969.
Although the Six Nations champions have a Millennium Stadium appointment with the Barbarians in Cardiff on June 2, their probable Test starting team will already be in Brisbane.
A group of 15 players, led by defence coach Shaun Edwards, will set off for Australia two days before the Barbarians encounter, with the 19 remaining squad members joining them on June 4 ahead of the first Test at Suncorp Stadium on June 9.
Rob Howley will be in caretaker charge of the squad while coach Warren Gatland continues to recover at home in New Zealand after fracturing both his heels following a fall at his holiday residence last month.
Howley wants Wales to kick on from a Six Nations campaign that saw them crowned Grand Slam champions for a second time in five years under Gatland’s guidance and is looking to sharpen their counter-attack.
“I think in terms of our counter-attack game, which we employed during the championship, I think we can be a little more effective with ball in hand and when the opportunity arises taking the ball back positively,” he added.
“I think towards the end of the championship, particularly in the France game, a lot of field position was required and we closed ranks in terms of the closeness of the game and the magnitude of what was on the game.
“When you play against Australia, you want to have a positive influence, and our counter-attack game will be one area we will work on between now and the Test series.
“The first Test will be important in terms of momentum. The Ireland win in the Six Nations this season gave us the momentum to set us up for the championship.
“When you lose a first Test it puts you on the back foot, so sending 15 players over prior to that Test series suggests we feel that we have got a great opportunity.”
Howley’s current 38-strong training squad will be reduced to 34 for the mission Down Under, but one headline selection to face the Barbarians will be flanker Martyn Williams, who is poised for his 100th cap.
Howley described the Australia tour as a “litmus test” for Wales.
“It is a huge challenge to play three Tests in any southern hemisphere country,” he said.
“While we have achieved Triple Crowns and Grand Slams, you can only look at the record books and history to see how many times a national side has beaten a major southern hemisphere team away from home.
“It would be a great achievement to win against a southern hemisphere team away from home, whether that is Australia, South Africa or New Zealand.
“If you are going to talk about being involved in World Cup semi-finals and finals, I think winning in the southern hemisphere is something that should be on your agenda.”
Wales play Australia in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney between June 9 and 23.
