Rugby World Cup - Gatland to recall big names for Wales' crunch RWC clash with Australia
Warren Gatland is expected to make massive changes to the crunch clash with Australia this Sunday. Warren Gatland is set to recall his star players for Wales' crucial Rugby World Cup match against Australia, with Ryan Elias expected to get the nod over co-captain Dewey Lake.
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Having made 13 changes for the win over Portugal, which was reduced to 12 when Jacques Morgan came on at the last minute for Tommy Reffell, Gatland looks set to return to the majority of the team that got Wales' Rugby World Cup campaign off to a great start against Fiji, with Morgan taking on the captaincy role.
One controversial decision could be the selection of Scarlets hooker Elias over Lake. The Ospreys hooker is extremely effective on the field, but Wales' lineout fell apart in the second half against Portugal.
Key Lineup Changes for Wales Against Fiji
Gatland is expected to favor Elias' accuracy at the lineout against Fiji, as well as his prowess in the scrum. The New Zealander is also expected to recall the likes of Dan Biggar, Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams, Gareth Davies, Nick Thompkins and George North.
But Wales are also looking to form Leicester Tigers opener Tommy Reffell and former England tighthead Henry Thomas, who are both suffering from calf injuries. Wales are yet to lose in France but Fiji's shock win over the Wallabies has left Group C wide open.
Eddie Jones is also reportedly expected to shake up his Australia squad, with Ben Donaldson expected to move from full-back to outside half-back in place of Carter Gordon, while power forwards Taniela Tupou and Skelton remain sidelined due to for injuries.
If Wales beat Australia in Lyon on Sunday, it would see the former world champions crash out of a pool tournament for the first time in their history. But if Wales lose, they too could face that when it comes to reaching the last eight of this competition.
Wales prop Gareth Thomas eyeing Rugby World Cup quarter-final berth against Australia
Gareth Thomas says it would be amazing if Wales beat Australia and book their place in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup with one game closer to the distance. Wales take on the Wallabies in Lyon on Sunday knowing victory will confirm one of the two qualifying spots from Group C.
England or Argentina are likely to finish in the last eight in Marseille next month, with Wales maintaining a 100 per cent play-off record under head coach Warren Gatland for four consecutive RWC campaigns.
Wales then have a break next week before completing their group match against Georgia in Nantes. When we came here we always wanted to win every game in the group and nothing has changed, Wales international Thomas said.
“We have the same mindset. We want to go out there, perform and win. It would be an amazing feeling, wouldn't it, to win a third time? We want nothing more than this. We're looking forward to this weekend and then we'll have a couple of days to recover from that."
While Wales take the box seat, Australia must win to have any chance of progressing from a group that also includes Fiji, Georgia and Portugal. A 22-15 defeat to Fiji in Saint-Etienne last weekend raised the prospect of Australia failing to reach the quarter-finals, its lowest achievement in all nine previous Rugby World Cup campaigns.
Australia's record in the tournament against Wales is nonetheless good, having beaten them five times in seven attempts, but they will undoubtedly be weakened in the last meeting by the absence of injured forwards Taniela Tupou and Will Skelton.
Rugby World Cup - Wales Remains Focused on Winning All Pool Games
Thomas added: They will always be dangerous when you play against them. We wanted to come here with the intention of winning all the pool games and nothing has changed for us. So whether they win or lose, it doesn't change anything for us. For more about Wales Rugby World Cup Tickets please visit our website.
We actually take a lot of confidence from the game against Fiji and Portugal and what we've done all summer and feel we can only get better. We know it will be a big physical competition and we are looking forward to going out there.
“It really doesn't matter to me whether they (Tupou and Skelton) are in the team or not. Behind us are our heavyweights Will (Rowlands), Birdie (Adam Beard) and Dough (Dafydd Jenkins). They are all heavy boys and so is Christ (Tsiunza). We ourselves have enough strength.”
Thomas is one of 16 Wales players to feature in the inaugural RWC campaign and he is enjoying the experience on and off the field. Wales assistant coach Alex King compared the team to a band of brothers, with Thomas saying: There's something special about every Rugby World Cup game, so we watch them and just enjoy them because there's a big buzz about everything.
We have fine committees. The (final) sheet came out with all the penalties and Nick Thompkins got a decent score. He was wearing the wrong shirt and was a little late to observation after the Fiji game because his alarm didn't go off. It's all a lot of fun.
“I'm an environmentalist, so I make sure everything is clean, take the empty bottles and put them in the bin. That's my job - the guy who tells everyone to put their stuff away."
Eddie Jones set to rip up Australia team with shock calls for Wales Rugby World Cup clash
The Wallabies coach is set to make some big changes ahead of their must-win Rugby World Cup clash with Wales. Eddie Jones is set to throw a curveball ahead of Australia's must-win RWC clash with Wales, replacing halfback Carter Gordon and moving fullback Ben Donaldson to the number 10 shirt.
Gordon is heavily targeted by Fiji during the Wallabies' historic 22-15 defeat in Saint-Etienne when the seven-cap player at fault for a Jozua Tuisaova try after failing to deal with a high ball.
Australia are due to name their team on Friday morning but the Sydney Morning Herald reports Jones will make some big changes as he looks to keep the Wallabies in contention for the play-offs and Donaldson will trusted in the half as Andrew Kellaway prepares to take over 15th place.
Defeat to Wales would not knock Australia out of the group stage entirely for the first time in Rugby World Cup history, but would force them to rely on Fiji losing to either Georgia or Portugal.
Jones initially backed the inexperienced Gordon heading into this Rugby World Cup, leaving veteran out-half Quade Cooper from his 33-man squad for France. However, the performance in Fiji appears to have caused Jones to lose faith in the 22-year-old.
Donaldson will step into the role of a trusted defender in the first two games of this tournament. Despite playing most of his club rugby for the Waratahs at number 10, he only started one game in that position for the Wallabies.
Wallabies Recall Experience Against Wales
Ironically, it is against Wales in Cardiff last year when the Wallabies beaten 34-13 and pulled off a remarkable victory in the final quarter. It should be noted that when Donaldson left the game in the 54th minute, the Wallabies not yet begun to reduce their 21-point deficit.
As for Kellaway, he will make his Rugby World Cup debut, having selected as a defender in both the Bledisloe Cup games and the final warm-up match against France. Jones is understood have train with striker Mark Navaganitawase at fullback earlier this week but decided to.
Gordon can still named on the bench, while scrum-half Tate McDermott is set to start after returning from the concussion he suffer against Georgia.
With prop Taniela Tupou and lock Will Skelton both ruled out by Jones earlier in the week, the Wallabies' tight-headed scrum will be an interesting choice. Experienced James Slipper rallied there against Fiji, but injured Pone Fa'amausili addressed the media on Wednesday, saying he will fit to play.
“Yes, the body feels very good, he said. Obviously it's a slow start to the campaign, but I'm ready to get started this week."
Replacement Search for Injured Max Jorgensen in Rugby World Cup
Away from the team that will face Wales, the Wallabies are yet to call up a replacement for rookie Max Jorgensen, who suffered an ankle injury late in the Rugby World Cup this week. The 19-year-old broke his fibula after landing poorly while receiving a high ball in training.
Waratahs teammate Dylan Pietsch is initially expect to called up as a substitute. However, it is understood that after telling to pack his bags and hit the road. Instead, the call could have received by one of the many Australians currently playing for the Barbarians in the UK.
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