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‘It’s a massive game’: Wales wary of ‘wounded’ Wallabies
The Wallabies are like a “wounded animal” ahead of their high-stakes World Cup clash in Lyon, according to Wales assistant coach Jonathan Thomas.
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Rocked by their first-ever tournament defeat to Fiji, the Australians could make more unwanted history if they lose to Wales on Sunday (Monday AEST).
Eddie Jones’s team could become the first Wallabies outfit to be eliminated at the World Cup’s pool stage.
Thomas said that threat made Australia dangerous.
“We respect Australia as a rugby nation. They are a wounded animal, they can be dangerous,” Thomas told reporters from Wales’s Versailles base.
Australia hold a 5-2 lead across the countries’ seven previous World Cup meetings, but Wales won the most recent encounter, a pool clash at the 2019 tournament in Japan.
Both teams advanced to the quarter-finals four years ago, with the Wallabies falling to England while Wales were knocked out by eventual champions South Africa in the semi-finals.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
3
Draws
0
Wins
2
Average Points scored
27
21
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
40%
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The Welsh are unbeaten in France from two games, holding off Fiji in a thriller before downing minnows Portugal last round.
Veteran Wales centre George North said taking maximum points from the opening two matches gave the team confidence ahead of the key clash with Australia.
He said securing a play-off berth on Sunday would be a “weight off the shoulders”.
“I’ve been to quite a few World Cups now, and to get early results is good,” North said.
“If you had said to us we would have 10 points after the first two games, everyone would have bitten your hand off.
“The Australia result against Fiji has put a spanner in the works for everyone, so it’s a massive game for us and we have to go out and win it on Sunday.
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“The boys are champing at the bit.”
Wales flanker Tommy Reffell withdrew from the Portugal game in the warm-up and is no certainty to be available to face Australia.
Comments on RugbyPass
There should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
41 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
29 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
41 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
29 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
10 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
41 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
29 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
29 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
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