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CARDIFF - Australia return to the scene of their 1999 World Cup triumph on Saturday determined to make Wales pay a heavy price for forcing them to return to a city where recent history has not been so kind.
The Wallabies slumped to a 24-22 defeat at Wales's
Millennium Stadium fortress in 2005, their first loss to the Welsh in 10 games, a run stretching back to their defeat in the third place play-off at the 1987 World Cup.
Then, last year, despite leading 17-3, they needed a late try from Chris Latham to escape with a 29-29 draw.
Australia's mood has not been helped by having to play in front of 75,000 passionate fans in a match they are convinced should really have been staged in France.
"I think they're very lucky to get a home game in a World Cup that's supposedly hosted in France," said Australia skipper Stephen Larkham who is looking forward to a third win over the Welsh since 2005.
"But we feel, across the board, that we know them individually a lot better now and I think that's going to hold us in good stead for the game on Saturday."
The winner of Saturday's clash will be virtually certain of topping Pool B and booking a quarter-final spot against the Pool A runners-up which most observers expect to be defending champions England.
Saturday's beaten side are likely to come up against the Springboks in the last eight.
The Wallabies, who crushed Japan 91-3 in their opening match, have made two changes to their starting team.
Drew Mitchell replaces winger Adam Ashley-Cooper, who injured his toe in the victory over Japan while Guy Shepherdson returns at tight-head prop in place of Al Baxter.
"This is a crucial game as far as our pool is concerned and a lot of what we have done over the past 12 months has been preparing us for this game," said coach John Connolly.
"Playing in front of a packed Millennium Stadium in a World Cup will be an unforgettable experience for the players. It's something they will treasure for the rest of their lives."
Australian lock Nathan Sharpe has warned the Welsh, who opened their campaign with a 42-17 win over Canada after trailing 17-9, to expect no mercy.
Sharpe insists the Wallabies slipped up in their two most recent trips to the Welsh capital.
"We took our foot off the throat," he said.
"We started well in both years and let them back into the game through our own mistakes and probably a bit of a drop in intensity thinking we might have had the wood on them. I don't think you'll see that happen this weekend."
Wales were saved from humiliation in Nantes last Sunday by the arrival of veteran British Lions stars Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones and Colin Charvis off the bench and all three are expected to start on Saturday.
That could mean James Hook, who had a poor game against Canada after being touted as a superstar of the tournament, being relegated to the bench.
"We expect Australia to play like they have been playing and we don't expect any surprises," said under-fire Wales coach Gareth Jenkins who has celebrated just five wins in his 17 games in charge.
"They play a good mix in their game and they are scoring more tries than anybody else in world rugby at the moment. We're aware of that."
- AFP