Determined Welsh Seek to Break Australian Hoodoo
In a highly anticipated match-up, the Welsh national rugby union team will face off against Australia this Saturday at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Among the enthusiastic Welsh fans in attendance will be former Wales prop Ben Evans, who has called Australia home for the last decade.
Evans, now 48 years old, represented Wales in 27 international matches between 1998 and 2004, including a defeat against the Wallabies in Sydney back in 2003. That loss was one of 11 occasions where Welsh sides have fallen short on Australian soil over the past 55 years. However, this weekend’s clash provides an opportunity to break that daunting record.
“I hope so,” said Evans, expressing his optimism about the upcoming series. “I think it is going to be 1-1, although I don’t know which way around. I would love to see Wales win the series outright, but if either team is on the receiving end of a 2-0 loss, it could be quite damaging for them.”
The current World Rugby rankings place Wales at ninth and Australia at tenth, with the Welsh side entering the series on the back of seven consecutive defeats. In contrast, the new-look Wallabies have only managed one victory in their last 12 Test matches in Sydney. This stark contrast in recent form adds an intriguing dynamic to the upcoming clashes.
Last year, Wales enjoyed a dominant 40-6 victory over Australia in the Rugby World Cup in France. However, both teams have undergone significant changes since then, with only six players from that match expected to feature in the starting lineups this weekend.
“I don’t think Wales have anything to fear,” said Evans. “They need to embrace the tour and have a nothing to lose mindset, and I hope that is the way they are approaching things. The Australian boys are there for the taking if Wales turn up and have the inner belief to stick to their game plan and enjoy the occasion.”
While the World Cup result may provide some additional motivation for the Wallabies, Evans believes it is not necessarily about bragging rights. “It is not necessarily about bragging rights from what happened in the World Cup, although the Australians will see that as fuel and maybe are quite bitter, because they are proud people.”
As the two teams prepare to lock horns, the stage is set for an intriguing and hard-fought series, with the passionate Welsh expatriate community in Sydney eagerly awaiting the outcome.
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