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McBryde wants Wales to be clinical against in-form Wallabies
By Rob Lancaster
Wales are determined to end their losing run against Australia and put down an early marker ahead of the 2019 World Cup, according to forwards coach Robin McBryde.
The Wallabies have won the previous 12 meetings of the two nations, with last year's convincing 32-8 triumph making it seven in a row on Welsh soil.
Michael Cheika's squad - who defeated New Zealand 23-18 in the third Bledisloe Cup Test in October - sent out a warning ahead of their European tour with a crushing 63-30 result against Japan last weekend.
However, McBryde believes the hosts can "take the next step forward" and finally beat Australia before they come up against each other in Pool D at the next World Cup in Japan.
"Two years away [to the World Cup] is a bit far away to be looking," McBryde told the media.
"However, it is always nice to win. We want to get that scalp we have been looking for.
"We know we have not got a great record against Australia, so the more times we get to improve on that record before the World Cup, the better it will be.
"We need to be clinical and bring that edge about us. I am not happy to just rely on a good performance. We need to get that result to get that next step forward."
Wales coach Warren Gatland has handed home debuts to Owen Williams, Steff Evans and Josh Navidi, although the home team are without injured trio Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton and Rhys Webb.
McBryde knows the performance of flanker Navidi and the rest of the pack will be crucial against an Australian scrum that improved under the guidance of Mario Ledesma, the former Argentina international who recently left the Wallabies to take over as head coach of Super Rugby franchise Jaguares.
"I know there is a lot of talk about attack and defence, but it starts with the front five," McBryde added.
"It's going to be a big challenge for us against an Australian pack that has really built momentum with [Mario] Ledesma's input with regards to the scrum. They are very efficient in that area."
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Latest Comments
This is true.
But perhaps because rugby is Australia’s fourth (or worse) most popular sport, there is just no coaching talent good enough.
It’s interesting that no players from the Aussies golden era (say between 1987 - 2000) have emerged as international quality coaches. Or coaches at all.
Again, Australians are the problem methinks. Not as interested in the game. Not as interested to support the game. Not as interested to get into the game.
And like any other industry in the world - when you don’t have the capabilities or the skills, you import them.
Not difficult to understand really.
Go to commentsi think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
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