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Can Wales Match The Wallabies?

With the domestic rugby tests upon the horizon and some mouth watering matches scheduled to be played out, the question that is on the mind of everyone is whether there is any necessity for a universal playing schedule. The Wales Rugby Team are slated for a tour of Down Under with three test matches against The Wallabies on their itinerary after they have finished their task in Scotland and with the Six Nations champions coming down to Australia is sure to be a hot news for weeks, will they be as strong a side that beat the odds to win the title?

There is no doubt that the Welsh squad will be extremely fit and ready to g moreover, most of the players in the squad have finished their domestic seasons as well with the Harlequins winning the Aviva Premiership, Leinster coming out on top in the European Cup and the Ospreys having secured the Pro 12, the Welsh players will be battle hardened after a long and grueling season. But the question is whether the players of the Wales Rugby Team who play for these teams and some of the other players whose domestic teams have gone the distance in their respective competitions, will have enough gas left in the tank to fight off the charge of The Wallabies.

Although the players of the Australian Rugby Team are no less battered and bruised than their Welsh counterparts, they have not had to endure the 35 week long rigorous season that most of the Welsh players have and the results could all come down to who has enough gas left in the tank.

Rugby is an extremely physical game and with the players of the Wales Rugby Team already having endured a tough year, calls for a universal schedule is getting louder from the neutrals.

WARBURTON SHOULD BE FIT

Sam Warburton is expected to be fit for Wales’ Grand Slam showdown with France in Cardiff at the weekend. Having been around for two of the first three games as Wales tied up the Triple Crown Warburton was missing for this weekend’s 24-3 victory over Italy with a knee injury but is expected to return for their final game of the Championship.

Justin Tipuric proved very capable of filling the hole left by Warburton but the form that the Welsh skipper has shown throughout the Championship so far means that Wales will do all they can to ensure they have a fully fit captain there to lead them out in what will prove to be a massive game for all of Wales.

Robin McBryde, Wales’ forwards coach described the news regarding Warburton as “very heartening”. He went on to describe how the flanker had “been running, albeit in straight lines, this week”. The progress being shown by Warburton is promising, but there is no certainty that he will make it for the Welsh game. McBryde will be in charge of putting Warburton through some “side-stepping and off-line stuff” and judging how his man reacts to the step up.

In the absence of Warburton earlier in the tournament, against Scotland Aaron Shingler was given the 7 shirt for his international debut and along with the impressive performance of Tipuric the strength in depth of the Welsh side is proving to be ever more impressive. The competition throughout the side allows no room for consistency and the impressive showing of the other flankers will keep Warburton on his toes when he does return.

Wales are keen to emphasise that they have ample cover for Warburton if he does not get passed fit for the Grand Slam showdown and it is true they do have a high degree of competence in the seven position. But ask any Welsh fan if who they would rather have in the shirt and there will be only one answer. If Warburton starts the Welsh chances of a Grand Slam will be significantly improved.

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