Rugby Tips: Wales can push Australia to World Cup brink

Winning Margin: Wales 1-7 points
Total Points: Over 46.5
Liam Williams Anytime Tryscorer

Rugby World Cup – Pool C
8pm: Wales v Australia
OL Stadium, Lyon
ITV 1

Australia face into a possible first ever pool stage exits after their 22-15 loss to Fiji last Sunday.

Simione Kuruvoli’s place-kicking punished an undisciplined Wallabies performance and Josua Tuisova pounced on defensive confusion to score the Pacific islanders only try of a game that now has Eddie Jones’ side in must-win mode against Wales.

The coach has made changes ahead of the crucial showdown, with Ben Donaldson moving from full-back to fly-half, replacing Carter Gordon who drops to the bench. 

While the 24-year-old Donaldson is a playmaker as evidenced by his 25 point haul versus Georgia in Australia’s opening game, he won’t get the same opportunities to dazzle against the Welsh, especially if they enjoy the same control at the breakdown Fiji did.

The sense is this move is a a rather desperate roll of the dice from a coach who has already generated controversy with his squad selection and the absence of more experienced heads, Quade Cooper among them.

Experienced fullback Andrew Kellaway comes into the side and could be important against the Welsh kicking game, but Warren Gatland’s side have shown just enough in their two bonus-point victories thus far to suggest they are capable of grinding out the necessary result here.

The tournament is on the line for Australia here. Barring a freakish run of results, their World Cup is over unless they win on Sunday.

It means they have to throw everything at Wales and risks will have to be taken throughout to stay with and overtake the Northern hemisphere side.

That means opportunities for both sides to rack up scores and play on the edge. Over on the total points line of 46.5 appeals given the stakes.

And that should mean we have plenty of tries.

While George North stands out as Wales second leading try scorer of all time, and Josh Adams is very short price too, with both having already claimed a score in the win over Fiji, Liam Williams might be the value play at better than 3/1 to score anytime given the chances likely to fall his way on the wing as Australia scrap for their lives.

Winning Margin: Wales 1-7 points
Total Points: Over 46.5
Liam Williams Anytime Tryscorer

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