“I love it when you’ve got to try to create a team, where everyone thinks they’re going to lose, to put themselves in a position to win,” Jones said. “I don’t know if it’s a drug but that’s the rush from coaching.”
As for the Welsh, they have some leeway — but not too much — after opening with a tight win over Fiji. Lose to Australia and the pool’s big three will have beaten each other, meaning their results and bonus points gained against Portugal and Georgia will determine which two teams advance.
As it stands, Wales has 10 points and both Fiji and Australia are on 6 after two games each.
Expect this one to be close. Because it usually is.
Rugby World Cup 2023 results so far
Fifteen of the last 16 test matches between Wales and Australia have been decided by a margin of just nine points or fewer. They were also side by side in the World Rugby rankings at the start of the tournament, only for the Australians to drop to a humiliating No. 9 this week.
They know each well, too, meeting at a fifth straight World Cup and the eighth time in total at this tournament — making it tied for the most-played World Cup fixture.
Their likeness even extends to the way they both parachuted in coaching greats with less than a year to go to the tournament in a sign of desperation. Jones and Warren Gatland have been around the block and have thrived on these big stages, which means this game is even harder to call.
“They’re not going to lie down and roll over for us,” Gatland said. “It’s going to be pretty close and I think it’s going to come down to the wire.”
On the back of six losses in seven tests this year, Australia has dropped flyhalf Carter Gordon and replaced him with Ben Donaldson, a fullback whose only previous test start at No. 10 was against Wales in November. Andrew Kellaway comes in at fullback for his World Cup debut and Rob Leota enters the back row.
Gatland is going with the same 15 who battled to a 32-26 victory over Fiji then were mostly rested in the win against Portugal where a potentially crucial bonus point was sealed very late.
History
WALES vs. AUSTRALIA
(Australia leads 31-1-13 overall, 5-2 in RWC)
TAB odds
Wales $1.97, Australia $1.85
How to watch
Sky Sport 1 from 7.45am Monday
Herald prediction
Wales 31 Australia 22
Lineups
Australia: Andrew Kellaway, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Jordan Petaia, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Ben Donaldson, Tate McDermott; Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Rob Leota, Richard Arnold, Nick Frost, James Slipper, David Porecki (captain), Angus Bell. Reserves: Matt Faessler, Blake Schoupp, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Fraser McReight, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Suliasi Vunivalu.
Wales: Liam Williams, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan (captain), Aaron Wainwright, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas. Reserves: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Henry Thomas, Dafydd Jenkins, Taine Basham, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer.
