Australia vs Wales Prediction and Betting Tips: More Welsh woe expected in Sydney

Two teams in need of a lift will lock horns in Sydney on Saturday as world number nine Australia take on a Wales side that will be looking to put their woes from the early part of the year behind them.

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For their part, the Wallabies will be playing their first international Test of 2024 on Saturday, having last been in action at the 2023 Rugby World Cup - a tournament that saw them fail to get out of their pool and they have been left licking their wounds ever since.

The side that topped Australia’s pool in France was Wales, but Warren Gatland’s side went on to swiftly exit the tournament after losing a thrilling quarter-final 29-17 to Argentina before going on to suffer defeat in all five of their matches in this year’s Six Nations.

While both sides have not had the happiest of times of late, Australia will be desperate to gain revenge for the 40-6 humbling they suffered against Wales at the World Cup and they should be able to make home advantage count on Saturday. 

The Wallabies have won 11 of their 12 home meetings with Wales, with their sole defeat coming back in 1969, and their most recent encounter on Australian soil came in 2012 when  the hosts came out on top in a tense 20-19 battle.

Wales have lost each of their six matches in 2024 - five Six Nations fixtures and a 41-13 drubbing at the hands of world champions South Africa last month.

Three of their last four defeats have come via a margin greater than 12 points and so an Australia win in this handicap market could be a tempting option.

Both Australia and Wales provide plenty of quality in the forward lines and this could be the greatest source of threat for tries in this encounter.

Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight has proved to be a great attacking asset for Australia since breaking into the side back in 2020 and he has scored 30 points in 17 international appearances to date.

McReight managed to get over the line in his last international appearance - a 34-14 victory over Portugal at the World Cup - and he could leave his mark on Wales by grabbing another try this weekend.

Despite only having 12 international appearances to his name, 24-year-old hooker Dewi Lake has already made himself an important cog in the Welsh frontline and he could help keep his team in the game on Saturday.

Lake has more international points than appearances and was the only tryscorer for Wales in their recent defeat to South Africa - do not be surprised if he crosses again on Saturday.