This is the one, the one that the Autumn series has built up to. In fact by pure fluke of fixtures there won't be another game this weekend, it feels like the final of something. It is the game that Welsh rugby has been building up to since the start of November. South Africa was a chance to test the team against the best, Argentina and Tonga were heavy warm ups for this game. It is the game that can put this squad on a different level to Welsh squads over the past few years, it would be a step up. To take the Southern Hemisphere scalp would be a sign of things to come from this young Welsh side.
A majority of this Welsh side have been on the wrong end of the scoreline six times in the last two years against the Australians. Wales have performed very well in most of these games but just not got over the line, on several occasions they lost in the dying seconds. There isn't much between them but the Aussies have that all important knack of winning. In the last three games the Australians have won by two points, one point and two points. There is only ever a mistake or moment of magic between the two sides.
Wales had become accustomed to losing to this strong Wallaby side, that was until the British and Irish Lions toured this Summer. The Lions set off with fifteen Welshmen in the squad, they would add one more in Shane Williams for a brief cameo later. Ten of this original fifteen started the last test with one more coming off the bench. In normal circumstances this would be a fairly unimportant stat but this is not a normal circumstance. Wales should have beaten the Australians already but on several occasions in the last few minutes have had a rush of blood and made the mistake the Wallabies will exploit. It is a psychological barrier as much as anything else, a feeling that Wales just don't beat Southern Hemisphere teams and particularly Australia. The Lions smashed down that barrier with every Welsh member of that squad proving themselves to the rest of the rugby world. They did it in the red of the Lions, it is time to do it in the red of Wales.
Wales will boosted for this game with the return of Scott Williams and one of the main performers on the Lions Tour, Alex Cuthbert. Although the new centre pair of Ashley Beck and Owen Williams worked well with them both scoring, there is no substitute for Scott Williams power and pace. He walks straight back into the team alongside Owen Williams who stays in after his fine display last Friday. Cuthbert was outstanding in the Lions series, scoring the winning try in the First test, and he took that good form back to Blues until injury struck. Now he is back he will want to show what Wales have been missing on the wing for the last few games. Although Liam Williams and other replacements have done a good job, they are not at the standard that Cuthbert is, he is a very natural finisher. Alex Cuthbert will certainly be aiming to come back with a bang, and don't be to surprised if you see his name on the score sheet.
With all the injury scares that Wales have had other the last month this team is strong and only three changes away from the ideal starting XV. It is time for Wales to step out of the Lions shadows and perform like everybody knows they can. They will need to keep Quade Cooper and the incredible Israel Folau quiet, so the kicking game will have to be deadly accurate from Dan Biggar. Most of all Wales need to believe they can do it, and turn those Lions into Dragons.
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