Wales begin double-header against Australia in Sydney desperate for a win of any kind... Warren Gatland's men have lost seven in a row but they have a great chance to break that streak

When a young Wales squad takes to nan section successful Sydney connected Saturday morning, immoderate benignant of triumph will do.

Warren Gatland’s broadside – 1 now dominated by inexperienced players astatine world level pinch a smattering of Test knowhow – has, unfortunately, go utilized to losing successful 2024.

Wales person tasted conclusion successful each of their past 7 matches, their past triumph coming against Georgia successful October 2023 astatine that year’s World Cup. Since that crippled pinch nan Lelos, Wales person been knocked retired of nan World Cup by Argentina, mislaid each 5 of their 2024 Six Nations games to decorativeness stone bottom, and been beaten by double world champions South Africa.

Breaking that hopeless streak is captious for Wales this summer.

In 2018 and 2019 – a play successful which Wales won a Six Nations Grand Slam and concisely roseate to No 1 successful nan World Rugby rankings – caput coach Gatland rightly pointed retired his squad had almost forgotten really to suffer specified was their self-belief. At that time, Wales simply refused to beryllium beaten.

Now, wins are proving much than difficult to travel by. There are a full big of reasons arsenic to why – and they see important issues some connected and disconnected nan section successful Welsh rugby – but nan bottommost statement is Gatland’s men person to put them to 1 broadside and deliver.

The reality is that for each their caller struggles, Wales person a awesome chance to hit Australia successful nan adjacent fortnight. Doing truthful would do wonders for nan assurance of Gatland’s rookies.

It must not beryllium forgotten nary Wales broadside has won successful Australia since 1969.

Breaking 55 years of wounded successful nan confederate hemisphere would beryllium a much than decent measurement for Wales to break their 2024 duck. Are they tin of doing so? Absolutely.

Were Gatland’s broadside taking connected New Zealand aliases South Africa this summer, past you’d person to opportunity they would guidelines nary chance. But for illustration Wales, Australia are rebuilding from nan bottommost up.

‘I don't cognize a batch astir nan Australian team,’ Gatland admitted successful Sydney this week.

‘I astir apt cognize much astir nan coaches than nan players. We're some connected nan aforesaid journey, pinch a younger group of players that are building towards nan adjacent mates of years.

‘We haven't had a superb grounds successful Sydney. Australia don't person a awesome grounds successful Sydney arsenic good and nan bookies person them arsenic favourites which is brilliant. We've sewage a mates of caller caps.

‘They've sewage a mates of caller caps starting and connected nan bench.’

Australia’s broadside for Sydney and their first crippled nether Joe Schmidt’s guidance is surely unfamiliar.

Wales’ squad is more-than-interesting too.

In nan matchday 23, only full-back Liam Williams (90 caps) and No 8 Aaron Wainwright (49) person much than 40 Test appearances. Rookie halfbacks Ellis Bevan and Ben Thomas person conscionable 3 Tests betwixt them and nan second is much accustomed to playing wrong centre than fly-half.

Thomas will besides footwear goals for Wales successful different domiciled that is different for him.

Archie Griffin wins only his 2nd headdress and first commencement astatine tighthead prop. Josh Hathaway, 20, makes an world front connected nan helping aft impressing for Gloucester this season.

Australian sides aren’t known for guardant power, but they will surely look to target Wales astatine nan scrum and up front. Their props James Slipper and Taniela Tupou are very experienced. Their other numbers successful nan Welsh battalion Gareth Thomas and Griffin will beryllium tested to nan full. Wales hammered Australia 40-6 astatine nan past World Cup erstwhile nan 2 sides past met.

But truthful overmuch has changed since then. Wales person mislaid nan world-class pillars of their broadside which were their cornerstone for truthful long.

Like Wales, Australia’s home crippled is successful disarray and beset by financial problems. But successful Schmidt, they person nan canniest of coaches who is their man astatine nan helm aft he succeeded Eddie Jones. Australia are rightly favourites fixed location advantage, but these look 2 moreover teams.

In truth, a prediction is difficult to make. Wales must enactment successful nan title successful nan first 4th and past prey connected location nerves nan longer nan crippled goes on.

An distant triumph would undoubtedly beryllium hugely significant.

‘Whatever Australian squad we play, nan respect I person arsenic a Kiwi for Australia and their occurrence intends they will beryllium difficult,’ said Gatland.

‘They'll travel to nan lucifer connected Saturday pinch a batch of assurance and self-belief.

‘That's 1 of their strengths arsenic a nation.’