Owen Watkin is determined to use the massive disappointment of losing the first Test to the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend to drive Wales on to victory in Melbourne on Saturday.
You have to go back to 1969 for the last time Wales beat Australia on their own soil and despite getting close in Sydney, going down 25-16, they remain upbeat ahead of the second Test.
“We were massively disappointed with the result because we went into the game fully believing we could win. We left a lot of opportunities out there, and we weren’t happy with the penalty count and the errors we made,” said Watkin.
“There is still a positive vibe in the camp, and we need a win on Saturday. It is now non-negotiable.
“We put ourselves in a position to win last weekend but the penalty and error count let us down and we will try to put that right. We just fell short last weekend, and we don’t want that to happen again.”
Watkin is now the senior partner in the Welsh midfield having won his 40th cap alongside Mason Grady. Wales head coach Warren Gatland has high hopes for Grady at inside centre and Watkin believes it is vital to the development of the team to get the ball in his hands as often as possible.
“It was only my second game playing with Mason. He’s a massive bloke, so the more times we can get him on the ball the better it will be for us as an attacking team,” added Watkin.
“Hopefully we can build a partnership into the future. The coaches have put a lot of faith in me to lead by example and I’m loving taking a senior role.
“I’m enjoying setting the standards and the pressure they have put on me. Hopefully, we can get used to playing together as a back line.”
