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The Wallabies are coming to the end of their Spring Tour and have managed to scrape together a team to take on a Wales side looking to bounce back from defeat to Georgia last week. Join The Roar from 2:15am (AEDT) on Sunday morning for live coverage.
The wounded Wallabies have limped into Cardiff and assessed the carnage of last week’s loss to Ireland, which has left them with only 25 fit players to pick from this week.
The injury ward was already full of Wallabies players with a host sent home to assess their various injuries, even before Michael Hooper was ruled out with concussion. It leaves Dave Rennie working on a backrow combination to take on the likes of Justin Tipuric and the big frame of Taulupe Faletau and has gone with Langi Gleeson over Pete Samu.
With the international window closed, the likes of Bernard Foley and Will Skelton were not able to play and that sees Ben Donaldson given the nod at flyhalf over Noah Lolesio, who rides the pine again this week to ponder what he needs to do to get back in the good books.
With Reece Hodge named alongside Donaldson, expect to see a long kicking game from the Wallabies to turn the Welsh around and attempt to pin them down their own end but the Wallabies will have to be more clinical in taking their chances – something they failed to do last week.
Jake Gordon is a curious selection at scrum-half after a game he would rather forget last week, and that sees the only other available 9 left in the squad, Tate McDermott, on the bench.
Len Ikitau has been one of the most consistent Wallabies in 2022 and his matchup with George North will be interesting. Ikitau’s defensive work has kept the Wallabies in games this year and he has proven he can be a physical presence as Bundee Aki found out last week.
The bench could be where this game is won as Wales are able to call on Rhys Priestland, who sunk Wallabies hopes in the same fixture last year with a late penalty goal.
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I’m just hoping this game doesn’t come to a kick to win it to continue the theme of this tour that, for some, can’t end soon enough.
Game information
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Referee: Matthew Carley Kick off: 2:15am (AEDT) Streaming: Stan Sport Betting: Wales $1.65, Wallabies $2.35 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Wallabies
1. James Slipper (c) 2. Folau Fainga’a 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Nick Frost 5. Cadeyrn Neville 6. Jed Holloway 7. Fraser McReight 8. Langi Gleeson 9. Jake Gordon 10. Ben Donaldson 11. Mark Nawaqanitawase 12. Reece Hodge 13. Len Ikitau 14. Jordan Petaia 15. Tom Wright
Replacements: 16. Lachlan Lonergan 17. Tom Robertson 18. Sam Talakai 19. Ned Hanigan 20. Pete Samu 21. Tate McDermott 22. Noah Lolesio 23. Jock Campbell
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Wales
1. Gareth Thomas 2. Ken Owens 3. Dillon Lewis 4. Adam Beard 5. Alun-Wyn Jones 6. Jac Morgan 7. Justin Tipuric (c) 8. Taulupe Faletau 9. Tomos Williams 10. Gareth Anscombe 11. Rio Dyer 12. Joe Hawkins 13. George North 14. Alex Cuthbert 15. Leigh Halfpenny
Replacements: 16. Ryan Elias 17. Rhodri Jones 18. Tomas Francis 19. Ben Carter 20. Josh Macleod 21. Kieran Hardy 22. Rhys Priestland 23. Josh Adams
