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5 talking points as Wales host Wallabies with Pivac's job in doubt

By PA
(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Wales end their Autumn Nations Series campaign when they tackle the Wallabies in Cardiff on Saturday. Wayne Pivac and his players are reeling from a 13-12 home defeat against Georgia last time out, ramping up the pressure for Australia’s visit. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the key talking points ahead of the game.

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Last-chance saloon?
There are some who feel that Pivac’s time is up as Wales head coach following the humiliating loss to Georgia. It came just eight months after Wales were beaten at home by Italy, with the New Zealander’s success rate since he succeeded Warren Gatland three years ago registering under 40 per cent.

Victory over Australia is a minimum requirement, although the damage might have already been done. Just ten months out from the World Cup in France, Welsh Rugby Union chiefs have arrived at a crossroads. Do they carry on with Pivac’s journey or turn off the engine?

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Banking on experience
If Wales do get over the line and claim a fourth successive victory over Australia, then experience will have played a major part. Former Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones and full-back Leigh Halfpenny are among those to be recalled, and when centre George North, hooker Ken Owens, flanker Justin Tipuric and number eight Taulupe Faletau are added to the mix, those six players alone boast a combined total of 626 Wales caps.

Jones and North are already into three figures, while Faletau makes his 100th Test appearance for Wales and the British and Irish Lions this weekend.

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Fascinating crowd dynamic
Wales’ attendances for the Autumn Nations Series have held up well, with more than 195,000 people watching games against New Zealand, Argentina and Georgia. A crowd of around 60,000 is likely for Australia’s Principality Stadium visit, but it is not about numbers this time, more about the reception Pivac and his players will receive after they were embarrassed by Georgia.

Welsh fans are renowned for loyalty and passion, with no question of them not being behind the team. If it all unravels again this weekend, though, patience could be a rare commodity. Even Welsh supporters can only take so much.

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Tourists limping home
The Wallabies have been decimated by injuries for their final game of a punishing European tour. After losing to France and Italy, their 13-10 reversal against Ireland last time out came at a huge cost. Former captain Michael Hooper, centre Hunter Paisami, scrum-half Nic White and prop Taniela Tupou are among those sidelined, with head coach Dave Rennie’s resources stretched.

Australia, though, know that Wales are also on the ropes, and it would still be no surprise if they rediscovered a winning formula against them after reeling off 13 successive victories in the fixture between 2009 and 2017.

What recent history predicts?
That 13-match losing streak was a painful one for Wales, particularly as six of those defeats were by five points or less. But the last three encounters have gone Wales’ way, winning 9-6 in 2018, 29-25 at the 2019 World Cup and 29-28 last year when Rhys Priestland booted a penalty with the game’s final kick to break Australian hearts.

Wales have never beaten the Wallabies four times in succession, so the accomplishment of such a feat would at least lift spirits at the end of an international year when Pivac’s men were defeated by South Africa (twice), New Zealand, France, England, Ireland, Italy and Georgia.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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