Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium, November 6
Confident Wallabies eye repeat performance
ESPNscrum Staff
November 4, 2010
Wales flanker Jonathan Thomas is upended by Quade Cooper, Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, November 28, 2009
Wales' Jonathan Thomas feels the force during defeat to Australia in 2009 © Getty Images
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Wales take on Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday with revenge on the menu.

Warren Gatland's side were hammered 33-12 by the Wallabies last November and the manner of the defeat has become a painful memory.

Robbie Deans' Australia arrive in Wales brimming with confidence however, having shrugged off their All Black hoodoo in thrilling style last weekend. They have struggled in Cardiff in the past, losing in 2005 and 2008, but this Wallaby side is in a brighter place than 12 months ago. Wales, on the other hand, have injury problems and a disappointing run of seven losses in their last 10 internationals. It's a big ask for the men in red.

Wales - Player to Watch: Cardiff Blues youngster Sam Warburton has beaten the veteran Martyn Williams to a starting spot and will go up against this year's John Eales Medal winner David Pocock. His opposite number has spent the year duelling with Richie McCaw and Warburton could announce himself with a big display against one of the key architects of last year's hammering. Or he could get steamrollered.

Wales - Team News: Williams' omission aside, there are plenty of changes following a raft of injuries. James Hook shifts to fullback while Tom Shanklin and Andrew Bishop plug the gaps left in midfield. Promising Dragons wing Will Harries also gets a start after an injury to Leigh Halfpenny. Jonathan Thomas starts at No.8 in place of injured captain Ryan Jones.

Australia - Player to Watch: James O'Connor secured victory over New Zealand last weekend and has now been entrusted with the kicking duties following Matt Giteau's decision to relinquish the role. O'Connor will need to continue to grow as a footballer and silencing a hostile Welsh crowd with an assured display would be a decent way to go about it.

Australia - Team News: Robbie Deans has opted for an unchanged line-up, meaning that Wales will have to deal with the enterprising Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau in the backs as well as the powerful Pocock up front.

Key Battle: Warburton v Pocock will have a massive bearing on both sides' ability to play their high-tempo passing games. Wales will also fancy their chances at the scrum given that the Wallabies struggled against New Zealand last weekend and they can call on a full British & Irish Lions front-row in Gethin Jenkins, stand-in skipper Matthew Rees and Adam Jones.

Trivia: Wales and Australia will compete for the James Bevan trophy this weekend. The trophy is named after the Australian-born Welsh international who led his adopted country in their first international against England in 1881. The trophy was first contested in 2007 with Australia having won three out of the four games played since.

Stats: Wales wing Shane Williams needs one more try to overtake Gerald Davies as his country's top try-scorer against the Wallabies with five.

Quote Unquote:

"Obviously,they are a very formidable outfit at the moment, but the last two Test matches we've had against them, we've won one and they were very dominant in the last one, which still hurts." - Wales wing Shane Williams

"We were impressed with what Wales did in the early stages of their two Tests in New Zealand in the summer. The challenge against the All Blacks is to do that for 80 minutes and that is very difficult. That is something we have found as we have started well in our last few games and found it hard to finish well." - Australia assistant coach Jim Williams

Prediction: Wales have again talked a good game in the build-up and will produce a gutsy display but with their massive injury list and Australia riding high, the visitors should rack up a second big win in as many meetings.

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