...

​Despite the fuss around the English Premiership’s rules about not releasing players to their home countries outside of the ‘true’ Autumn International window, George North flees the Saints this weekend for what could be a massive leap up the ladder in Wales’ international success. Beating the Wallabies would be a huge hurdle to overcome, especially after such a lacklustre performance against Tonga last week.They did it as Lions…but can they do it this Saturday at the Millennium Stadium?  Let’s see if North can carry Folau as a backpack again in front of a roaring Welsh crowd!

The Wales v Australia teams have been announced as follows:

WALES:

Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Owen

Williams (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), George North

(Northampton Saints), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Unattached);

Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones

(Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate

(Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Toby Faletau

(Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements:

Ken Owens (Scarlets), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Samson Lee

(Scarlets), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhodri

Williams (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Liam Williams

(Scarlets).

Australia:

Israel Folau; Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian

Leali’lifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper,

Stephen Moore, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, James Horwill, Scott Fardy,

Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt).

Replacements:

Tatafu Polota Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas, Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley