Australia eager for 'Grand Final' against Wales

Australia coach Ewen McKenzie said his side would treat their tour finale against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday as a "Grand Final" after naming his team to play the Six Nations champions. Both sides are in the same 2015 World Cup pool as hosts England and, with Australia having won their last eight Tests against Wales, McKenzie is keen the Wallabies extend that run at the Millennium Stadium. "We're treating this week a little bit like our Grand Final," McKenzie said after unveiling his side on Thursday. "I think everyone will be extremely motivated by the circumstances of the game and the opportunity to play Wales in their backyard." Of the six players given one-game bans ahead of Australia's 21-15 win over Scotland last weekend following late night drinking exploits in Dublin, only two -- backs Nick Cummins and Adam Ashley-Cooper -- have been recalled, with the starting pack unchanged. Christian Leali'ifano now moves to his favoured role of inside centre, with Ashley-Cooper alongside him in midfield. Saturday's match will also see fly-half Quade Cooper, frozen out by former coach Robbie Deans after labelling the environment created by the New Zealander as "toxic", win his 50th cap. "To get to 50 games is an outstanding achievement and it's fitting that he reaches the milestone at the end of a really good individual season," said McKenzie, who knows the 25-year-old well from their time together working at Queensland and made Cooper his Wallaby vice-captain to skipper Ben Mowen. "But, he won't be too caught up in the milestone externally, his focus will be on how he fits into the team and his responsibility of managing this game," added former prop McKenzie, a member of Australia's 1991 World Cup-winning team. Wales boss Warren Gatland enjoyed success against the Wallabies by coaching the British and Irish Lions to a 2-1 series win in Australia earlier this year. But Wales' record against southern hemisphere giants South Africa, New Zealand and Australia since he became their coach in 2008 is dire, with just one win and 21 defeats. Earlier this week, the New Zealander tried to downplay that poor run of results by saying: "People have got to be aware that probably in the past we've used (the November internationals) as a preparation for the Six Nations because that's our bread and butter -- these are friendlies. "Our focus has changed a bit this autumn." But, in comments to travelling Australia media, an unimpressed McKenzie said: "They've decided suddenly it's time to actually go out and beat those teams, I don't know why they weren't deciding that last year or the year before. "He (Gatland) has been at it since 2008, he's had plenty of time to make that decision." Had it not been for a 20-13 defeat by England in their tour opener, Australia would be on the verge of equalling the Wallaby Grand Slam of 1984 where England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales were all defeated on the one tour. But a run of three straight wins -- they've also beaten Italy on this trip -- is Australia's best of the year. Australia (15-1) Israel Folau, Joe Tomane, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali'ifano, Nick Cummins; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; Ben Mowen (capt), Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy; James Horwill, Rob Simmons; Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, James Slipper Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Kane Douglas Dave Dennis, Nic White, Mike Harris, Bernard Foley Source: AFP