Wales captain Sam Warburton isn’t cursing bad luck for a run of nine straight losses against the Wallabies, bluntly admitting his side just hasn’t been good enough.
“You are not unlucky nine times in a row,” Warburton said ahead of Saturday’s Test between the sides at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
The Welsh have not beaten the Wallabies since 2008, with five of the nine defeats coming by four points or less.
Saturday’s encounter looms as crucial ahead of the sides meeting at next year’s World Cup but Warburton insists the problem isn’t mental.
“Australia have obviously been that smidge better than we have been over those nine fixtures,” Warburton said.
“It’s not a psychological barrier.
“The first time I came into the squad was on the back of beating them in 2008, so you always have the belief when playing these teams.
“It is a massive opportunity for the squad and it is coming to the time, which we have said year after year, with the World Cup on the horizon and the senior players in the group, that we really do have to get a win over one of these (southern hemisphere) teams if we are to be considered one of the best in the world.”
Injuries have forced Wales into a selection surprise with big winger George North pushed into outside centre after injuries sidelined midfielders Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams.
North made headlines when he famously man-handled Israel Folau during the British and Irish Lions’ successful tour to Australia last year and his move infield has set the stage for another exciting duel.
“He’ll bring a lot of size to that midfield so I’m sure the guys that get picked at 12 and 13 for us will certainly have a lot of traffic coming at them,” Folau said of North.
“I think the last few games I’ve played against George have been quite exciting and it’ll be much the same this weekend.”
In-form Scarlets back Liam Williams will wear the No.11 shirt usually filled by North, while Rhys Webb has edged out Mike Phillips for the halfback role, with 87 times-capped Phillips on bench duty.
Elsewhere, Bath prop Paul James earns a start ahead of Wales cap centurion Gethin Jenkins, Jake Ball is Alun-Wyn Jones’ second-row partner and the returning Dan Lydiate features at blindside flanker despite his lack of game-time with French club Racing Metro this season
Webb, Warburton, fullback Leigh Halfpenny and hooker Richard Hibbard all return having missed Wales’ summer tour of South Africa due to injury.
Wales have prepared for their November internationals with some particularly punishing training that has stood comparison with anything Warren Gatland has demanded of his players during a six-year coaching reign.
“It has probably been the toughest Welsh camp we have been in,” Wales and Bath prop Paul James said.
