The Indy Rugby Podcast: ‘If Wales lose against Australia, it should be considered a World Cup shock’

Jack de Menezes and Sam Peters catch up from opposite sides of the world to discuss Wales’s chances of beating the Wallabies

Wales can take a giant stride towards the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals if they can find a way to finally beat Australia in Sunday’s Pool D crunch clash.

They may have been the No 1 ranked team in the world not so long ago, but Wales have not beaten a southern hemisphere tier one side at the World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987, having been knocked out by South Africa four years ago in the last eight.

Having made a solid start against Georgia last Monday, Warren Gatland’s side face the Wallabies at the Tokyo Stadium in what is billed to be one of the matches to watch in the pool stage.

Wales finally managed to get their Australia hoodoo off their back in Cardiff last November, but beating Michael Cheika’s side at a World Cup is a very different prospect due to their ability to rise to the occasion.

But the Wallabies haven’t had a smooth ride so far in Japan, with wing Reece Hodge banned for his high tackle on Fiji’s Peceli Yato while Cheika himself has come out all guns blazing in his regular press conference.

On this episode of The Indy Rugby Podcast, Jack is joined by Sam Peters, rugby union writer for The Independent, who has covered Wales for the past year and knows a thing or two about the finer workings of Gatland’s outfit.

Download the episode here as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you listen.

Episode seven will look at the reaction to Japan’s historic victory over Ireland and what it means for the Rugby World Cup quarter finals.