Wales team to face Australia at World Cup

Alun Wyn Jones in action for Wales v Georgia at World Cup Alun Wyn Jones will lead his country against Australia (Image: David Davies/PA)

Alun Wyn Jones will become Wales' most-capped player when he leads his country against World Cup rivals Australia on Sunday.

The Wales skipper wins his 130th cap, breaking the previous record held by prop Gethin Jenkins.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged team for the Pool D showdown in Tokyo, retaining the side that started a 43-14 victory over Georgia four days ago.

There is one switch among the replacements, with Ospreys centre Owen Watkin taking over from Leigh Halfpenny.

Centre Hadleigh Parkes and hooker Ken Owens, who both suffered knocks during the Georgia game, are among a starting XV featuring nine survivors from Wales' narrow win against Australia last November.

There are also further opportunities for prop Wyn Jones and flanker Aaron Wainwright after they made their World Cup debuts in the Georgia game.

And flanker Aaron Shingler will again provide second-row bench cover for starting locks Jake Ball and Alun Wyn Jones.

Victory for Wales would put them in pole position to win their group and set up a potential quarter-final against France or Argentina.

But if the Wallabies claim a 14th win from the last 15 starts against Wales, then Gatland's men could find themselves hurtling towards a last-eight appointment with England.

Wales have not claimed a World Cup success against Australia since 1987, when they won a third place play-off encounter 22-21 in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Australia, meanwhile, opened their current World Cup campaign by beating Fiji, but wing Reece Hodge was cited for a dangerous tackle and banned following that game and he will miss the Wales clash.



Wales team to play Australia

Forwards: 1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets), 2 Ken Owen (Scarlets), 3 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), 4 Jake Ball (Scarlets), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (CAPTAIN, Ospreys), 6 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), 7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 8 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues)

Backs: 9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues), 12 Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), 13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), 14 George North (Ospreys), 15 Liam Williams (Saracens)

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee (Dragons), 17 Nicky Smith (Ospreys), 18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), 19 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), 20 Ross Moriarty (Dragons), 21 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), 22 Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), 23 Owen Watkin (Ospreys)

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