Tuqiri said: “The Welsh are quite confident and so they should be, but they should not rest on their laurels, especially after our loss in midweek. That has really pumped up the boys for Saturday.
“Losing to the Ospreys could be a blessing in disguise. You just don’t know where people’s heads are before the first game of a tour but that result has sharpened everyone’s focus. We’re not leaving any stone unturned and Wales will have to play very well to beat us.”
The Wallaby backs are now led by former Wales coach Scott Johnson who returned to Australia in the summer after guiding the dragons to a Grand Slam last year. Tuqiri added: “Our skills levels have improved a lot under Scott. Wales have got one of the best back lines in the northern hemisphere but we’re ready to show what we can do.”
Phil Waugh will captain an experimental Australia team that includes makeshift scrum-half Matt Giteau and Stephen Larkham at centre but 69 times capped flanker George Smith has been left out.
