Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards says a 2009 flogging at Australia's hands was a turning point that might just have sparked a decade of single-figure results between the nations.
The Wallabies beat Wales 33-12 that day and all but one of their matchups since - a 32-8 loss in 2016 - has been decided by fewer than 10 points, including a drought-breaking 9-6 victory for the Welsh in 2018.
Edwards said in that 2009 match Australia taught them a lesson about aerial skills, an area of the game they have practised “incessantly” ever since.
“That was a big turning point for us really, that's when we started to really practise our aerial work,which is really prolific in the game at the moment,” he said.
“Now we've got people like Liam Williams, Dan Biggar and they're very good in the air.
“The Australians taught us a lesson in the area. Obviously Australian background in Australian rules stuff like that it's in their DNA to be very good in the air like the Irish lads with Gaelic football.
“Since then we've since then we've practised that incessantly and I'd like to think we'd improved a little bit of that. That was a bit of a negative performance from us that day.”
That practise looks to have been worth it, with Wallabies coach Michael Cheika admitting on Friday that backline changes to his side were in part about negating the aerial threat of Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar on Sunday.
While the aerial scales might have tipped towards Wales, Australia have added other weapons to their game, most notably the development of a strong rolling maul.
It was a part of the game that they used to great effect against Fiji, with hooker Tolu Latu scoring two tries from it.
Wales struggled somewhat against Georgia’s rolling maul in their first match earlier in the week and they’ll be prepared for another staunch test against the Wallabies.
"It’s (Australia's attack) probably changed a little bit in the last couple of years," Edwards said.
"I think their last performance showed that their driven lineout is a huge presence for them at the moment.
"It definitely got them out of trouble against Fiji.
"The nine and ten are always an emphasis for any team but particularly for Australia, with the experience and the skill they have there.
"They’ve also got some good impact coming off the bench, with obviously Kurtley Beale there who is a tremendous player. "
Wales come into the match with the most recent bragging rights but history shows neither team can ever really feel comfortable in these match-ups.
While there have been more than a handful of grinding matches between the two nations in that run, Edwards said he was expecting more five-pointers to be scored this time around.
"I think there will be more points than 9-6, but history tells you there have been a lot of one-score games between us and Australia," he said.
"That’s why our discipline is so important. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s another one score game and hopefully it goes to Wales."
On Sunday, they have a chance to take back some of those missed chances over the past decade and Edwards said the opportunity was not lost on the players.
"There has been an edge to us all week," he said.
"Let’s be honest we’ve been preparing for this since the draw was made. It’s a pivotal game. I said to the players yesterday this is a game they will remember for the rest of their lives and we want to be successful in it."
The Wallabies face Wales at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday September 29, kicking off at 4:45pm local, 5:45pm AEST, LIVE on Foxtel, Network Ten and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO, the Rugby Xplorer App and Amazon Alexa.
