Wales can't afford to give the Wallabies an early jump in Cardiff this weekend, captain Alun Wyn Jones says.
The Welsh are hoping to break a decade-long losing streak against the Wallabies when they face off in Cardiff and with six wins in a row leading in, this is arguably their best chance of victory in recent memory on paper.
Paper will mean nothing, though, if Wales let the Wallabies pounce early on, Jones said.
"You know Australia are always going to attack from anywhere,” he said.
“With the players they have, they can spark up a moment of individual brilliance, and they marry that with a decent pack. They always come and pose a threat, and it will be no different this weekend.
“It’s key to shut down their momentum. If they get an early score, then you need to chase the game.
“Especially against a team like Australia, who have that counter-attacking ability, you just don’t want to get in a hole against them early on.
"In international rugby you can’t get that back, so we need to be switched on and start well."
Despite the Aussies' run of wins, matches between Australia and Wales have been incredibly tight in the past decade and it's often been snatched by the Aussies in the final moments.
Wales coach Warren Gatland has tried to combat that with a strong bench for the clash this weekend and Wyn Jones said the star reserve lineup left meant they had no reason to drop off in the back end of the game.
“I think Gats has made a point to a few of the boys about the calibre of player who can come on and make an impact,” he said.
“The closer you get to Australia, the further you feel away. In 2012, I think it was 11 points across three Tests against them.
“We have got no excuse with the people we’ve got off the bench.
"The people who did that in the summer and against Scotland last weekend had a good game, and I am sure the people who will do that on Saturday will do a good job."
The Wallabies take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday November 10, kicking off at 5:20pm local, Sunday 4:20am AEDT, LIVE on beIn Sport Foxtel Channel 513 and SBS.
