Wales target pivotal Aussie Test

Warren Gatland insists Wales’ autumn Test with Australia is ‘pivotal’ in their 2011 Rugby World Cup build-up.

Wales coach Gatland says they should copy England’s model for world domination before their 2003 triumph.

“It is a real pivotal game in terms of our progression as we must win the big games at home, and regularly,” he said.

Gatland’s men hope to be in the world’s top three before the rugby showpiece in New Zealand, according to half-backs Stephen Jones and Leigh Halfpenny.

Australia are third in the current International Rugby Board world rankings and even though Wales are sixth - up from eighth at the start of this autumn series - Gatland believes Wales are favourites ahead of Saturday’s showdown in the Millennium Stadium.

The Wallabies have won just once this autumn - drawing to Ireland thanks to a last-minute Brian O’Driscoll try before losing to Scotland after Matt Giteau missed a last-gasp penalty.

Wales, meanwhile, are bidding for their third successive autumn win and first back-to-back victory over the Aussies since the early 1970s.

And Gatland hopes the 2008 Grand Slam champions can start their development towards hopefully winning their first World Cup crown.

“It is easy for any team going into a game as underdogs knowing that if you play well on the day that you have a chance of turning over one of these big teams,” Gatland

“But it is how we handle the expectation of us perhaps going into the game as favourites and this is a challenge for the team for taking that next step.

“The next level it is doing well in the Six Nations and then beating the southern hemisphere teams away from home.

“That has to be our challenge if we want to get into the top three or four in the world and be serious contenders for the next World Cup.

“That was the progression that England took going towards the 2003 World Cup.”

Lions fly-half Jones is a double Grand Slam winner but suffered the humiliation of an early exit after the pool stages at the 2007 World Cup.

And Jones, who will be 33 for the 2011 showpiece, says: “We want to be up there with the best in the world.

“We have a good and competitive squad and if you want to be the best then these are the teams you have to beat on your own patch.”

Jones’ Scarlets team-mate Jonathan Davies added: “To be one of the best nations in the world we have to go up against these teams and put them away.”

Halfpenny said: “It is important we do beat Australia heading into the Six Nations and further as it is good knowing we can beat the best in the world.”

Wales leapfrogged Argentina in the IRB rankings after their 33-16 win over the Pumas in Cardiff on Saturday and Blues wing Halfpenny says “it is important” they take another top scalp in Australia.

But he warned: “After drawing against Ireland and losing to Scotland, Australia are under a bit of pressure to win something before they go back home.”

Wales team to face Australia on Saturday: James Hook; Leigh Halfpenny; Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies; Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones (capt).

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Dan Lydiate, Martin Roberts, Andrew Bishop, Tom James. (source)