Wallabies putting bonus point permutations out on mind in quest for Wales victory

Sat, Sep 23, 2023, 11:13 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Mark Nawaqanitawase and the Wallabies aren't buying into the bonus point discussions. Photo: Getty Images
Mark Nawaqanitawase and the Wallabies aren't buying into the bonus point discussions. Photo: Getty Images

The Wallabies are refusing to be drawn into discussions surrounding the need for a bonus point victory as they narrow their focus towards Wales.

The side currently sits four points behind the top-ranked Welsh in Pool C, with Fiji on the same points, although with the tie-breaker thanks to last week's victory.

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It means if they win on Monday and Wales manage to nab a bonus point either for scoring four tries or being within seven, the Wallabies will need results to go their way to qualify for the knock-out stages.

This would mean Wales needed to either not get a bonus point in their final match against Georgia or the Fijians to lose a game to Portugal and/or Georgia.

“We’re just focused on getting that win, anything that comes extra will be a bonus,” winger Mark Nawaqanitawase said.

Nawaqanitawase is joined in the back three by the returning Andrew Kellaway, playing his first game of the Rugby World Cup.

It allows Ben Donaldson to shift to ten, with the winger backing Kellaway's experience to prove the difference.

“‘Kells’ just brings that experience with Donno moving to ten…it’ll be his first game in a while so he’ll be looking to get involved and add that energy," he said.

Wales made a record 252 tackles in their opening game against Fiji, the most by any team in a World Cup game.

Despite this, Nawaqanitawase remained confident they can break down their defence and rectify the issues from Fiji.

“They did quite well in that [Fiji] game but for us, we just have to take confidence on what we can do 

“I’m really keen to have a crack at these guys so as much as they can be good in defence, there will be some gaps in the game after we move them around a bit so we need to look for those opportunities as a team and take them."

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