Preview: Wales vs. Australia – prediction, team news, lineups

The blockbuster this Sunday in the 2023 Rugby World Cup will come from Pool C, with Wales taking on Australia in a match of huge significance at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon.

The Red Dragons currently lead the pool with 10 points after their first two matches of the competition, while the Wallabies are in third place with six points and under huge pressure to get a result here.

Match preview

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After defeating Portugal 28-8 in their last group match and winning their first two group games by an average of 13 points, Wales come into this match against Australia with momentum on their side.

However, despite securing the win and bonus point against Portugal, Wales were far from impressive, as the underdogs managed to keep the game close in the second half and were trailing by just 13 points with ten minutes remaining.

In their match against Fiji, Wales displayed an incredible defensive effort, ultimately securing a 32-26 victory; however, their win was partially attributed to Fiji’s inability to score a try in the closing moments of the match.

While Wales have not displayed the potential to dominate their opponents in this World Cup, they have ground out the results, as evidenced by their two bonus point victories so far, which reminds us just how resilient they can be.

Warren Gatland is clearly starting to work his magic, and a win here will pretty much guarantee his side’s place in the knockout stages, though the head coach will know that the Wallabies will not go down without a fight.

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Meanwhile, Australia showed dominance in their opening match over Georgia; however, their performance took a sharp downturn in their last game against Fiji, as the issues that plagued them during the 2023 Rugby Championship once again became evident.

In the match against Fiji last weekend, the Wallabies found themselves physically outmatched, and their repeated infringements, resulting in penalties, pushed them backward and ultimately cost them the match.

Fair to say, the positive vibes in the camp that followed their victory against Georgia have dissipated, and they must find a way to generate momentum if they intend to defeat an improving Welsh team.

The pressure is now squarely on Eddie Jones to formulate the correct tactics for Sunday’s crucial match, and the Wallabies head coach will know that his side must secure a win to keep their cha