Australia is on the brink of a disasterous End of Year Tour, capping a very dismal season… will Wales send them further into the hole?

Australia have only won 5 Tests this year and on their End of Year Tour have drawn against Ireland and lost by a point against Scotland. They are an unsettled side, with voices calling for the head of coach Robbie Deans, yet one senses that when they get going they will be difficult to beat leading up to the World Cup of 2011.

Wales are the Wales of old, the proud Rugby playing Nation which the world fears and respects.

This game can go either way, but I’d have to chance it and say that Matt Giteau cannot be diabollically bad for 3 games in a row… so I predict a narrow win for Australia.

Recent results:
2008: Wales 21-18 Australia, Cardiff
2007: Wales 20-32 Australia, Cardiff (World Cup)
2007: Wales 0-31 Australia, Brisbane 
2007: Wales 23-29 Australia, Sydney 
2006: Wales 29-29 Australia, Cardiff 
2005: Wales 24-22 Australia, Cardiff 
2003: Wales 10-30 Australia, Sydney 
2001: Wales 13-21 Australia, Cardiff 
1999: Wales 9-24 Australia, Cardiff  (World Cup)
1996: Wales 19-28 Australia,  Cardiff 
1996: Wales 3-42 Australia, Sydney
1996: Wales 25-56 Australia,  Brisbane

Teams:

Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jamie Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Paul James, 3 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Sam Warburton, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Tom James

Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Quade Cooper, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Dean Mumm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Mark Chisholm, 19 George Smith, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 James O’Connor, 21 Kurtley Beale.

Date: Saturday, November 28
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 17.15 (17.15 GMT; 06.15 AEDT, November 29)
Expected weather conditions: Sixty percent chance of showers.  9°C . Wind southwest at 26 kmph
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Peter Allan (Scotland)
TMO: Geoff Warren (England)