Australia v Wales: Historical Notes (2008)

• This is the 28th meeting between the two sides. Australia has won 17 of the previous Tests and Wales nine, with the 2006 clash at the Millennium Stadium drawn 29-29.
• The rivalry between the two teams on Welsh soil has been close: Australia has won nine times to Wales’ seven, along with the 2006 draw. Significantly the Wallabies have won just once in their last three visits to Cardiff.
• These two sides met on three occasions last year – twice in Australia, and during the pool phase of the sixth Rugby World Cup, when Cardiff played host to the game. The Wallabies won all three matches, winning the World Cup match 32-20. Stirling Mortlock and Matt Giteau were among the Australian try-scorers in that game.
• * Saturday sees the James Bevan trophy at stake for just the second time – and the first on Welsh home soil. The Trophy was inaugurated last year to commemorate the 100th year of Test Rugby between Australia and Wales. Bevan was an Australian born Welshman who was the first ever captain of the Welsh Rugby team. Australia won the inaugural James Bevan Trophy on home turf last year after defeating Wales 2-0 in the series.
• The most tries scored by an Australian player in a single Test against Wales is two. This has been achieved by nine different players. Matt Giteau, who has three career tries to his name against Wales, is just two behind Chris Latham, whose five tries represent the most by a Wallaby against Wales in Tests.
• Wallaby skipper Stirling Mortlock is 13 points short of becoming just the third Australian to post 50 Test points against Wales.
• Flanker Phil Waugh wins his eighth cap against Wales, tying David Campese for the second most appearances by an Australian against Wales. The pair are one behind George Gregan, who appeared against Wales on nine different occasions. Nathan Sharpe wins his seventh cap against Wales, joining Joe Roff on this tally.
• Australia won the 1999 Rugby World Cup final at the Millennium Stadium, defeating France 35-12 in the final. The Wallabies had earlier beaten a Graham Henry-coached Wales 24-9 in the quarter-finals at the venue.

11th November 2008