THE LOWDOWN FOR AUSTRALIA’S RUGBY WORLD CUP SHOWDOWN WITH WALES
Head to head:-
Games played: 38
Australia: 27 wins
Wales: 10
Drawn: 1
World Cup records:-
Australia: 36 wins, 8 losses
Wales: 21 wins, 14 losses
Best World Cup finish:
Australia: Champions (1991, 1999)
Wales: Third (1987)
World ranking:
Australia: 2
Wales: 3
Recent clashes between the two nations:
2014: Australia won 33-14 in Cardiff
2013: Australia won 30-26 in Cardiff
2012: Australia won 14-12 in Cardiff
Recent form:
Australia: 33-13 win over England; 65-3 win over Uruguay; 28-13 win over Fiji.
Wales: 23-13 win over Fiji; 28-25 win over England; 54-9 win over Uruguay.
Key players:
Australia: Sean McMahon. Watch out for the firebrand No.7 to step into the shoes of Michael Hooper with ease. McMahon plays a different style to defensive pest Hooper, but his all-out aggression and focus on attack will be felt. He’s been man of the match in his past two Wallabies performances.
Wales: George North. Everybody in Australia remembers this guy from his brilliant British and Irish Lions tour in 2013. Most famously, North showed off brute strength to fling would-be defender Israel Folau up on his shoulder and carry him 10 metres downfield. Wales have moved him to the centres to involve him more.
Teams:
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Sean McMahon, Scott Fardy, Dean Mumm, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore (capt), Scott Sio. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Rob Simmons, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
Wales: Gareth Anscombe; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (capt); Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Paul James. Res: Ken Owens, Aaron Jarvis, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Ross Moriarty, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, James Hook.