Analysis

Do or die: Time for the Wallabies to step up against Wales

The world has become very ugly for the Wallabies since losing to Fiji, and will get worse unless they bring the mongrel, determination and smarts needed to beat Wales.

Simon PoidevinFormer Wallaby

Sep 22, 2023 – 3.29pm

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Week three of the 2023 Rugby World Cup will be defined by four fascinating games, and once again Australia will be in the most crucial one of them when the Wallabies take on Wales in Lyon on Monday at 5am AEST. For the army of close to 30,000 Australian supporters descending upon France’s gastronomic capital, they probably weren’t expecting that the third match of a potential seven would already be, in effect, a live or die affair.

But that’s exactly what it is. The world has become very ugly for the Wallabies post the 15-22 loss to a magnificent Fiji on Monday. Eddie Jones has been the subject of an absolute pile on. Exasperated green and gold supporters have bemoaned a soulless and inept performance in Saint-Etienne against a Fijian team that just wanted it more.

Simon Poidevin played 59 Test Matches for the Wallabies between 1980 and 1991, captaining the team on four occasions. Simon is one of only four Australians to have won rugby union's World Cup, Grand Slam, Bledisloe Cup and Hong Kong Sevens.