A five try win over Argentina in Mendoza earned them the five points they needed to overtake the Springboks and finish as runners-up to New Zealand. It was a win that also moved them above South Africa and Ireland into third place in the world rankings.
That means Warren Gatland’s Welsh team will meet the No 1 (New Zealand), No 3 (Australia), No 5 (South Africa) and No 12 (Georgia) ranked teams in the 2017 Under Armour Series which kicks-off next month with a clash against Michael Cheika’s Wallabies. Wales are currently the lowest ranked of the Four Home Unions in seventh place.
Add in the fact they scored 25 tries in their six games, including nine in two outings against the world champions, they didn’t pick up any yellow cards and recycled the ball better than any other team in the tournament, and the statistics tell you they are going to be a tough nut to crack on Saturday, 11 November.
Beating the Aussies is almost becoming as big a holy grail for Gatland’s Welsh side as it is to try to beat the All Blacks. We all know the last win over New Zealand was in 1953, but it is now 12 games and counting since Wales last won in the 2008 Autumn Series.
Everyone in Wales knows about the threat posed by Israel Folau, who top scored in the tournament with five tries, half-backs Will Genia and Bernard Foley and back row dynamo Michael Hooper. But what Cheika has been able to do this year is introduce some young blood.
The tries in the 37-20 win over the Pumas came from Marika Koroibete, Reece Hodge (2), Foley and Genia. Significantly, Genia, whose 84 cap career includes 10 straight wins over Wales, believes the Wallabies have completely turned around their fortunes from the low point earlier in the year when they were beaten 24-19 by Scotland in Sydney.
“It’s the best environment I’ve been a part of in the time I’ve been in a Wallaby group,” claimed Genia, who made his debut in 2009. “Everyone has a buy-in and a say in how we do things and everyone holds each other accountable as far as the standards are concerned.
“It’s a really good group to be a part of. The biggest thing I enjoy is that guys want to get better and improve.
“We’ve had a little bit more time to develop what we stand for as a team. We’ve got something we want to live by as far as what it means to be a Wallaby and, as time has gone on, we’ve been able to add to it.
“We’ve held ourselves accountable to living by it, on and off the field. Over time it’s become more organic, as opposed to something that is forced.
“It’s a great thing when you have young guys like Izack Rodda come in and buy into it straight away. As a senior playing seeing that you feel like it’s very conducive to being open to everybody.”
Rodda, Jack Dempsey and Marika Koroibete have stood tall after being given their chance to shine and Hodge is fast turning into one of the top wings in the world. They have two more games before they take on Wales, the third Bledisloe Cup clash with the All Blacks in Brisbane on 21 October and a Test against Japan in Tokyo on 4 December, and then they will be looking to make it ‘unlucky 13’ for Gatland’s men.
New Zealand completed their clean-sweep to take the title with a 25-24 win over South Africa in Cape Town. Despite falling behind in the second half they conjured up a try for full back Damien McKenzie to take the win.
The Al Blacks scored 35 tries in their six matches – 10 more than the next best. They are due to play France and Scotland before facing Wales.
Under Armour Series 2017 – BUY TICKETS HERE
WALES v AUSTRALIA – Saturday, 11 November 2017 (17:15)
WALES v GEORGIA – Saturday, 18 November 2017 (14:30)
WALES v NEW ZEALAND – Saturday, 25 November 2017 (17:15) SOLD OUT
WALES v SOUTH AFRICA – Saturday, 2 December 2017 (14:30)
