TEST MATCH RUGBY: Australia v Wales

03.12.2011
Australia v Wales in Cardiff

Venue: Millennium Stadium

Referee:Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

Swansong for Shane Williams. Image thanks to terrynorm.ic24.net

Preview
This is the only major test match in the Northern Hemisphere following the great show that was the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Australia walked all over a disappointing Barbarians team last Saturday. Their disappointment of losing to New Zealand in the quarter final was offset by a 3 point win over Wales in the Playoff.

This match looms as a most enthralling encounter between these two teams. Australia defeated Wales in the 3rd-4th Playoff at the World Cup, ending an agonising Welsh campaign that saw them come close to playing New Zealand in the final. France defeated them by 1 point in a semi-final.

For Wales the match celebrates the career of brilliant winger Shane Williams. This will be his final test match.

Last Five Encounters
21.10.2011 Australia 21-18 in Auckland (World Cup, Playoff 3rd-4th)
06.11.2010 Australia 25-16 in Cardiff
28.11.2009 Australia 33-12 in Cardiff
29.11.2008 Wales 21-18 in Cardiff
15.09.2007 Australia 32-20 in Cardiff

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Australia 2nd, Wales 5th

IRB Ranking Points
Australia 87.42, Wales 80.18

Prediction: Australia by 10 points

Teams

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 James Roberts,
11 Shane Williams, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Tobias Faletau,
7 Samuel Warburton, Capt. 6 Daniel Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Bradley Davies,
3 Scott Andrews, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Matthew Rees, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Ryan Jones, 19 Justin Tipuric,
20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Daniel Biggar, 22 Alexander Cuthbert
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

Australia
15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Lachlan Turner, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 James O'Connor, 9 William Genia, 8 Benjamin McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Robert Simmons,
4 James Horwill, Capt. 3 Salesi Ma'afu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements
16 Stephen Moore, 17 Benjamin Alexander, 18 Nathan Sharpe, 19 Radike Samo, 20 Benjamin Lucas, 21 Benjamin Tapuai, 22 Nicholas Phipps
Head Coach: Robbie Deans