Wales coach Warren Gatland was quick to remind the Wallabies of their own issues before his team attempt to break a 13-Test losing streak against Australia ahead of their World Cup clash next year.
“It’s not about getting the monkey off the back,” insisted Gatland after his team opened its November Tests campaign with a rare win, beating Scotland 21-10 in an error-strewn clash in Cardiff.
Next up Wales face the Wallabies in the first Test of their Spring Tour on Saturday, also at Millennium Stadium, in a match that may provide some insight to their Pool D clash at next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Michael Cheika’s men also have plenty to prove after winning only three of 10 Tests so far in 2018 and they will be keen to maintain their psychological edge over Wales.
“There are games (against the Wallabies) where we’ve been leading going into the final minutes,” said Gatland
“Unfortunately, we’ve been unlucky at times but it would be nice to win next week and get a result.
“But the more important game will be at the (2019) World Cup. From a confidence point of view, it will be interesting.
“They’ve got their own pressures back home and they need performances and results too.”
Wales usually come up against Southern Hemisphere opposition fresh from the Rugby Championship at this time of year, but opted to host Six Nations rivals Scotland and won their opening test in November for the first time since a 2002 success over Romania.
It is all part of the planning of Gatland as he builds towards next year’s World Cup and he will hope that the rustiness in the victory over the Scots is gone by the time his side host Australia next weekend.
“It’s nice to get a hit out rather than being thrown in against a Southern Hemisphere team coming off the rugby championship, which is always a tough ask,” Gatland told reporters.
“There are aspects of our game that need to improve. The kicking game will need to improve. But there were also lots of positives and lots to build on. There wasn’t a lot of space out there. Scotland didn’t look like stretching us out wide, which I found a bit surprising.”
Wales next host an Australia side who have won the last 13 clashes between the sides, but have had an indifferent 2018, including finishing third in the Rugby Championship and a home series loss to Ireland.