Flying Wallaby wing Mark Nawaqanitawase on Saturday said he is eager to get at Wales’s famed tough defence as Australia look to keep their Rugby World Cup hopes alive.
Defeat to Fiji last weekend has left the Wallabies hopes hanging by a thread and another reverse against Warren Gatland’s Wales in Lyon on Sunday would almost certainly see them heading home early from the tournament.
Australia made few inroads into Fiji’s bruising defence last week in Saint Etienne, but Nawaqanitawase is unbowed and believes they will be able to muscle into the Wales backline.
“Wales have always been a strong team with some talented players, I guess we’re going to have to put up a fight against these guys,” said the 22-year-old Waratahs back.
“It will be a tough game but we’re looking forward to it.”
Nawaqanitawase made his name last November with two tries in a stunning comeback victory for Australia in Cardiff when the Wallabies overturned a 21-point deficit to claim a last-gasp 39-34 victory.
It was only his third appearance for the Wallabies and he is chomping at the bit to get stuck into the Welsh again.
“For us, we’ve just got to take confidence in what we can do. I’m really keen to have a crack at these guys,” said the strapping 100-kilogramme, 1m91cm wing, who has scored in each of Australia’s first two Pool C matches.
“As much as they’re pretty good in defence, there will be some cracks in the game after we move them around a bit, so we’re going to look for those opportunities.”
With Wales having pipped Fiji 32-26 and then the Pacific Islanders defeating Australia 22-15, a Wallaby victory on Sunday would set up the possibility that progression from Pool C comes down to bonus points — all three sides currently have two each.
But Nawaqanitawase says that cannot be a consideration on Sunday.
“First of all, just focus on getting that win. Anything else that comes extra will be a bonus,” he said.
He will have a new partner in the back three as head coach Eddie Jones picked Andrew Kellaway at full-back and shifted Ben Donaldson to fly-half to replace the misfiring Carter Gordon.
“Kel’s such an experienced player and the move with Dono at 10, he brings that experience,” Nawaqanitawase said of Kellaway.
“It will be his first game in a while, he’ll look to get involved and add his energy to the team.”
