Australia are looking to end a disappointing year on a high and recapture the form that took them to the World Cup final at Twickenham a year ago. The Wallabies start their grand slam tour of Europe against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday having won three of their past 11 Tests.
They did, though, finish runners-up to New Zealand in the Rugby Championship and their defence coach, Nathan Grey, had a warning for supporters of the four home unions and France who think Australia will be a soft touch.
“It is understandable if people think we are vulnerable after this year,” Grey said. “They can make judgments on how strong we are and we do not hide behind the fact we have been beaten three times by New Zealand and England. It is a matter of identifying what we did well and growing as a team.
“We believe if we get our preparation right we will be in a position to put Wales under pressure with the ball and without it. When we get it right, we feel we can trouble any team in the world. It is about having the belief in the squad to do that, and that is why our focus this week has been on putting in a performance against Wales we can be proud of.”
Australia arrived in Cardiff on Wednesday afternoon having spent a few days at Lensbury, near Twickenham, where they stayed during the knock-out period of the World Cup. Grey said that what happened during that tournament, when they defeated England, Scotland and Wales on their way to the final, had not been talked about this week. Neither had the world rankings before next year’s World Cup draw: Australia are third and one of Wales’s stated aims is breaking into the top four this month.
“We have put the World Cup well and truly to bed,” Grey said. “Our last game was against New Zealand, and while we had some good passages of play, we conceded 37 points and have a lot to improve on. The world rankings are irrelevant and not a motivation or a focus this tour which is about improving the fundamentals of our game and our consistency.”
Australia announce their team on Thursday, just before Wales, who are without three of their regular back-five forwards, Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones, whose father died this week.
“Our thoughts go to Alun Wyn and his family,” Grey said. “It was a sad way to start the week. Wales are missing some players, but their coaching staff is very experienced, very clear in the way they play the game. Whoever comes in will slot into the system.”
Australia have to replace the suspended flanker Dean Mumm and the injured centre Samu Kerevi. Grey said the Wallabies were thinking about playing the full-back Israel Folau in the centre so he would see more of the ball, although as Wales kick a lot, a safe pair of hands will be needed at full-back.
“Israel is an option in the centre and the opportunity to get the ball to him is something we work on,” Grey said. “Teams here do kick a lot and you need someone safe under the high ball, but they also pose attacking threats. It is disrespectful to say we will not meet anyone like New Zealand in the next five weeks.”
