Venue & time
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, September 15. 23:00 (AEST).
Head to head
Played 26: Australia 16 – Wales 9 – Drawn 1
Last time
Suncorp Stadium (Brisbane), 2007. Australia 31-0 Wales.
Walking wounded
Australia has lost winger Mark Gerrard for the remainder of the tournament with a serious knee injury suffered against Japan. Winger Adam Ashley-Cooper is almost certain to be ruled out after suffering a toe injury in the opening match. Tight-head prop Guy Shepherdson looks to have overcome a troublesome knee injury as well as a corked thigh suffered in training last week. Number eight Wycliff Palu (shoulder) came through the opener unscathed as did Test debutante Berrick Barnes (groin).
Wales welcomed back flyhalf Stephen Jones against Canada following a four-month layoff with a hip-flexor injury, and look set to have him on board for the pivotal clash with the Wallabies. Inspirational skipper Gareth Thomas will also play despite sporting 20 stitches in three facial wounds suffered against France in a warm-up match.
Form
The Wallabies were impressive in their 91-3 destruction of the Japanese in Lyon, but face a much tougher test at Millennium Stadium on Saturday. The Wallabies blew out the cobwebs against the Cherry Blossoms and will enter this match quietly confident. But the Wallabies will need to recapture the form they showed throughout the recent Tri Nations series, if they hope to account for Wales at home.
Wales continued their recent run of indifferent form in their opening Pool B match against Canada. The Welsh trailed 17-9 early in the second half before finding their feet to run out 42-17 winners. But Wales, who have registered one win and one draw in their previous two encounters with the Wallabies at Millennium Stadium, will be a totally different outfit in front of a perochial Cardiff crowd on Saturday.
Who's hot
Wallabies flanker Rocky Elsom produced a dominant display against Japan including a rare hatrick of tries. Lock Nathan Sharpe was busy up-front while back-up flyhalf Berrick Barnes did not look out of place on debut, bagging a double of his own. Fullback Chris Latham showed glimpses of his best in what was a solid team performance.
Returning flyhalf Stephen Jones and veteran fullback Gareth Thomas stamped their class against Canada, coming on as second-half substitutes to rescue the Welsh from a potentially embarrassing defeat.
Teams
Teams will be announced on Wednesday night.