Wales face Australia in their second test of two on Saturday in search of a win.

To do so, they need to beat the Wallabies on Australian soil for the first time since 1969 and stop a run of eight consecutive test match defeats which is getting perilously close to their personal unwanted record of 10 set in 2003.

That side turned things around with a 54-8 dismantling of Romania, however, should Wales lose this weekend they will head into an Autumn against Fiji, Australia and South Africa.

Despite the record books, centre Owen Watkin said that victory was “non-negotiable” this week.

Warren Gatland has made two enforced personnel changes to the side which lost 25-16 last weekend as Cameron Winnett and James Botham replace the injured Josh Hathaway and Aaron Wainwright.

Both Winnett and Botham started the 41-13 loss to South Africa before dropping out of the starting 15.

The changes see a reshuffle with Winnett coming back in at full back, shifting Liam Williams to the wing and Botham coming in at blindside flanker with Taine Plumtree moving to number eight.

Wainwright in particular will be a huge loss having produced a stellar display on the occasion of his 50^th cap last week a performance which Gatland called “outstanding”.

Round Peg in a Square Hole

The reshuffle adds to one of Wales’ primary dilemmas.

Looking through the starting XV, a third of the team are now playing in new or non-primary positions.

One of those – Williams, has played plenty of rugby on the wing instead of his preferred 15 jersey but Plumtree, Ben Thomas, Christ Tshiunza and Mason Grady are all playing in positions which they are less accustomed to in professional rugby.

However, while Grady, Thomas, Tshiunza and Plumtree still have room to grow into their shirts, it doesn’t mean they are not able to perform there in time.

Much can be said about Grady’s physicality and ability to get over the gainline, an asset which Wales missed against France in particular and he certainly could fill that void whilst Plumtree does seem the most natural replacement for Wainwright in Wales currently.

Thomas’ goal kicking was impressive against Australia while Wales fly-half Rhys Patchell praised him on the Sportin Wales podcast this week.

“I thought he was alright,” said Patchell.

“First start internationally at 10, second start of the season is a big ask.

“I would say he would come off the field having kicked all his goals, some lovely penalties to touch giving Wales some really good field position. The really nausey stuff is what I look for, not the highlights moments.

“I thought the decision before Wales scored their try to put the ball on the toe into the dead space was a really smart decision.

“When he throws the ball into touch is awesome from him. He’s seen Wales have a dent, flattened up, taken the line and he’s gone so fast that people are half a second behind him. So, I think there’s plenty for him to be positive about.”

What all four of the players need is experience in those shirts. The question is now, will they get it?

Plumtree a Natural Wainwright Replacement

When Plumtree was signed by Scarlets last summer, he was described by head coach Dwayne Peel as a “versatile forward…able to play across the back row.”

However, due partly to Plumtree’s injury troubles, where he missed five months of rugby from mid-November to April, Scarlets fans are yet to see their man at number eight this season.

Indeed, his only start at the base of the scrum this season came during Wales’ World Cup warm up match against England at Twickenham last August.

His selection appears to reinforce the profile of an eight which Gatland prefers – both Plumtree and Wainwright are athletic, quick back rowers who are both useful lineout operators. A profile which explains the continued non-selection of in form Ospreys eight Morgan Morris.

Gatland will hope Plumtree’s athleticism can fill the void created by Wainwright who was Wales’ best individual attacking threat in the first test.

Cardiff Conundrum

In the centres Gatland has again selected Cardiff’s Grady at 12.

Having started his international career at outside centre, Grady hadn’t featured at inside until his second half performance against Italy in this years’ Six Nations where he was Wales’ most potent attacking weapon, scoring his first international try to boot.

This will be his third consecutive start at 12 as Gatland searches for the physicality in midfield which Wales have been missing.

However, this season of his 17 starts for his region, Grady has not started once at inside centre, starting five times at 13 and the rest on either the right or left wing.

He has shone on the wing for Cardiff, particularly at the start of the season where he scored a try in each of his first three starts in that position in November, while he was unfortunate not to grab a hattrick whilst playing there against Ospreys on Judgement Day.

Of course, it is not the first time Gatland has moved a Cardiff wing into inside centres, doing so to great effect when he shifted Jamie Roberts from the back three to inside centre way back in 2008, however, whether Grady will get the game time at regional level in his new position is doubtful.

Speaking on the Cardiff Central Podcast in April, Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt described his ideal 12 as “a second playmaker” who can “step in as first receiver and distribute”.

Looking ahead to next season, Cardiff will have Ben Thomas along with new signings Steffan Emmanuel and Rory Jennings to fill that role while Wales squad member Jacob Beetham has also been identified by Sherratt as someone who can fill that role.

With Rey-Lee-Lo signing another year-long contract it appears that Grady’s time will be split between outside centre and wing for his region, contrasting with the hopes of his national coach.

Sherratt’s assessment of roles will also be of concern to Gatland having named Thomas at 10 for both tests against the Wallabies.

Thomas started one match at 10 last season for Cardiff, a player of the match display against Sharks in South Africa, but in Tinus de Beer and new signing Callum Sheedy, Sherratt appears to have preferred options in the fly half spot.

It remains to be seen whether Sherratt changes his philosophy or Gatland continues with his 10 and 12 but it would appear difficult for both to coexist given the experience needed to succeed in those positions at international level.

Tshiunza Debate

Christ Tshiunza produced some great moments and some…not so great moments against the Wallabies in the first test.

His turnover, two feet from his own line was gargantuan, however he also conceded some soft penalties for offside and playing the nine.

Exeter teammates Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins are 22 and 21 respectively and it is easy to foresee this being a combination long-term in the second row for Wales alongside competition from Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Teddy Williams, Ben Carter and James Fender.

However, at club level, Tshiunza has only started one game of an injury truncated season, in the second row while every start he made last season was in the back row.

Gatland has previously stated that he is searching for a tough hard-nosed six and Tshiunza could well fit the bill.

It will be interesting to see long term whether Tshiunza features at blindside flanker for Wales once the rested Will Rowlands and the injured Adam Beard return.

Teams:

Australia: Wright; Kellaway, Flook, Paisami, Daugunu; Lolesio, Gordon; Slipper (capt), Faessler, Tupou, J. Williams, Salakaia-Loto, Valetini, McReight, Cale.

Replacements: Nasser, Kailea, Alaalatoa, Blyth, Gleeson, White, Donaldson, Pietsch.

Wales: Winnett; L. Williams, Watkin, Grady, Dyer; B. Thomas, Bevan; G. Thomas, Lake (capt), Griffin, Tshiunza, Jenkins, Botham, Reffell, Plumtree.

Replacements: Lloyd, Mathias, O’Connor, Hill, Martin, Hardy, Costelow, Tompkins.