Having finally shaken off a Wallaby-shaped monkey on their back last November, Wales will go into their clash with Australia confident they can make it consecutive wins over Michael Cheika’s team.
Welsh prop Dillon Lewis talked up the psychological importance of Wales finally securing a breakthrough win over the Wallabies last year in Cardiff on the Spring Tour.
Prior to Wales’ 9-6 win, the Wallabies had won 13 Tests in a row, dating back to 2009.
Many in the Australian team had never tasted defeat against Wales before, and contrastingly, many in the Welsh team had known what it felt like to get up over the Wallabies.
足はやすぎ！ウェールズ代表🏴 トモス・ウィリアムズの日本各地疾走？トライ🏉@WelshRugbyUnion @WalesTeamRWC19#RWC2019 #WALvGEO #RWC豊田 pic.twitter.com/7ZysIBXYOc
— ラグビーワールドカップ (@rugbyworldcupjp) September 24, 2019
With their pool D clash on Sunday in Tokyo very likely to determine who finishes top of the pool, which potentially brings a better crossover rival in the quarters, the win last year by Wales was very timely.
"It is obviously something we can take into the game on the weekend,” Lewis said.
"It is massive to get those wins against the southern hemisphere teams and to get that win in the autumn last year against them is something we will be looking back on and seeing what we done right. It will be big going into this game on the weekend, yeah.”
Lewis said the Welsh were expecting a mix of up-front power and dangerous backline threats from Australia.
"We have seen Australia on the weekend. Their set-piece has improved quite a lot and that’s an area I can assure you we will be looking at,” he said.
Wales made a six-try start to their @rugbyworldcup campaign. Cychwyn campus i'r gystadleuaeth gan y dynion mewn coch.
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 24, 2019
▶️ Watch the #WALvGEO highlights from #RWCCityOfToyota pic.twitter.com/cTXfVdFMnd
"Again, defensively, we all know what Australia can do with the ball in hand. They’re a very dangerous team and a very exciting team. If we get our defence right, it should be a good game."
After waiting for all the other opening round games to be played, the Welsh finally got into action against Georgia and got the job done in their 43-14 win.
"Obviously it’s been long summer building up to it and you cam see the boys were raring for that game. It’s nice to get a tournament finally underway,” Lewis said.
"It’s good to get six tries. I thought it was a very good team performance. We spoke quite a lot during the week about set piece and what Georgia were bringing. Especially scrum time, they pride themselves on their scrum and being one of the best in the world. So we put a massive emphasis on that and definitely first half showed up scrum time and lineout.”
The Welsh suffered a blow, however, with lock Cory Hill being ruled out of the rest of the tournament after suffering a fractured foot.
📰 @iainpayten and @bethknewman take you through another day of #RWC2019 news from Tokyo. pic.twitter.com/pvuRN4eorJ
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) September 24, 2019
Experienced campaigner Bradley Davies has flown into to join the Wales squad.
"It’s a big shame losing Cory. Brilliant bloke and a brilliant player but Brad Davies has been called up now and he has a load of experience,” Lewis said.
"Two World Cups and again another big character, so he’ll be a perfect fit."
