Australia

[pompey-zebra]

Agree with the above. The changes that have been made look like they strengthen the squad. Although I dont think costellow did a lot wrong when he came on for Biggar, bringing Anscombe back now he's had a run out makes sense.

[UKHamlet]

Anscombe was dreadful against Portugal but TBF he wasn't given much to playmake with. Hopefully, going into the last quarter with a (hopefully) comfortable lead will allow him to demonstrate his qualities.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Wales: Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan (captain), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Henry Thomas, Dafydd Jenkins, Taine Basham, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer

Exactly what I would pick.

[Sandydragon]

Wales: Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Gareth Thomas, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Aaron Wainwright, Jac Morgan (captain), Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Henry Thomas, Dafydd Jenkins, Taine Basham, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Rio Dyer

I prefer that to the side that played Fiji. Stronger tight head for sure and Basham brings something off the bench, as does Dyer.

My only note of concern is for Anscombe who looks like a shadow of where he was in 2019, but is I suppose a controlling figure to help prevent a 60 minute plus meltdown. We hope.

[Sandydragon]

We really do have something like a consensus, what a strange feeling.

Gatland was always going to play Beard, and Wainwright at 6 seems the right call. What is different to previous World Cups is that we are not constrained by injuries - and we have good fit players who have not made the 23.

Like others, I am relieved to see Thomas as tight head bench cover. Hopefully this will reduce the chance of last fifteen minutes scrum panic. I thought Smith might get the loose head bench spot.

Taniela Tupou and Will Skelton are confirmed as out of the Aussie team, which will not help them.

Gatland obviously sees a lot in Beard that many don’t. He is more of a grunt player and if he is replaced by Jenkins when the game opens up then that’s no bad thing. We don’t have another lock putting their hand up and of the 2, I’d rather Jenkins in the latter parts of the game.

[normanski]

Beard’s height will be useful early doors to settle down the lines out. We’ll need him to break it up if the Aussies have a rolling maul near our line.

[Graigwen]

Anscombe always was very much a Gatland project. He saw a lot in him before he had ever set foot in Wales and that was to a large extent justified before he was injured and missed the last World Cup. I don't think there is much doubt that Gatland sees Biggar and Anscombe as complementary, offering different strengths.

It is an act of faith to have Anscombe on the bench for such an important game as this, given his complete lack of recent match time until the Portugal game Let's hope his faith is justified.
.

[normanski]

Anscombe always was very much a Gatland project. He saw a lot in him before he had ever set foot in Wales and that was to a large extent justified before he was injured and missed the last World Cup. I don't think there is much doubt that Gatland sees Biggar and Anscombe as complementary, offering different strengths.

It is an act of faith to have Anscombe on the bench for such an important game as this, given his complete lack of recent match time until the Portugal game Let's hope his faith is justified.
.

Absolutely! Anscombe has the skill set to kick for territory and close out a game. I hope we’re in that position come 9.25 on Sunday.

[Graigwen]

Not much room for excuses today.

For about the first time in living memory we are free from serious injury problems.

The crazy draw has favoured us (while Scotland get the worst deal of any team).

Even the order and spacing of pool games has helped us, with most of our team having a week off before this crunch game.

I am just hoping for a good game, with no red cards for either team; and none of that Welsh speciality, an injury to a key player minutes before kick off.

[normanski]

This is such a difficult game to call given eternal Welsh pessimism.

Will Australia come out like wounded animals and tear us to shreds with a performance we know they are capable of.

Or will our improving team grind them down in an arm wrestle upfront and take them apart with our new-found clinical finishing.

This could be possibly the worst Australia side in decades with lots of dissension behind closed doors. Adding to this is a story today that EJ had a Zoom interview for the Japan coach’s job just before the RWC. That can’t be good for player morale or commitment.

I’m sitting here with a Zen like calm waiting for the eight o’clock kick off. I should be nervous but I’m not.

In Gatland we trust.

[francoisfou]

I'll be in the Toulouse Fanzone later this afternoon to watch the matches and there'll be many of us shouting, "Allez les Gallois!"

[Son of Mathonwy]

I need to keep a lid on this unexpected feeling of confidence.

[Graigwen]

Another Welsh favourite I don't want to see tonight is the massively overthrown lineout straight to the opposition.

[normanski]

Here we go!

[Sandydragon]

What’s with these bloody tarot type cards? Why is the Portuguese card before the Aussie Welsh game?

[Sandydragon]

Oh fucking yeah baby!!!!!!

[Which Tyler]

Dewch ymlaen Cymru!

[Sandydragon]

Nice hands by Tompkins again

[Sandydragon]

Aussie backs dangerous as always

[Sandydragon]

Praying Biggar is ok

[pompey-zebra]

3 points could have been worse after all that pressure.

[Sandydragon]

Damn Biggars off

[pompey-zebra]

Line out awry and now a scrum penalty. Not a good few minutes

[Sandydragon]

Lineout and scrum wobbles in the space of a couple of minutes. Hoping this isn’t a omen

[Sandydragon]

And we miss a penalty. Come on boys