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Wales need to be switched on

Wales need to be switched on

Wales fly-half Stephen Jones has warned his team-mates they must be streetwise to keep Australia under wraps.

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The Wallabies are riding high after beating the All Blacks last week and Jones knows Wales must be switched on.

“We’re fully aware of Australia’s attacking ability. They have a very exciting back line who play a certain style and do it very well,” said Jones.

“We have to be smart and manipulate them. It’s all about concentrating on a style that suits us and making sure we are efficient.

“We can’t be sloppy or turn ball over easily or we will be punished. We have to get our set-phase attack right because that gets you momentum.”

Earlier in the week Andrew Bishop admitted Wales were still hurting from last season’s 33-12 defeat at the hands of the Wallabies.

Wales were blitzed by three tries in 24 minutes of the first-half and Jones has singled out maverick outside-half Quade Cooper as the key Wallaby dangerman ahead of Saturday’s mouth-watering Invseco Perpetual Series opener.

“Quade’s a quality player. First and foremost he’s got something different to other players,” continued Jones.

“His footwork’s very good and his kicking game is outstanding. He very rarely gets wrapped up in the tackle because his footwork is so good. You very rarely see him die with the ball.

“We also need to make sure we cover as much space as possible as he will make you pay with his kicking game.

“They’ve very good players right across the backline, on his inside is Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes is another option. They play very well as a unit and complement each other well.

“They’re well organised, potent and their backs are good footballers, so if there’s turn over ball we have to switch to defensive mode straight away.

“We’ve spoken about Australia but we have faith in our ability and the game-plan the coaches have created. We want to be sharp and play rugby, but defensively we have to be switched on.”

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