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Aussie Chisholm backs Wales

Aussie Chisholm backs Wales

Former Australia lock Mark Chisholm reckons now is the perfect time for Wales to claim a Wallaby scalp.

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Wales kick-off their three-Test tour in Brisbane on Saturday and Chisholm, who won 58-caps, fears the wounded Wallabies are there for the taking.

Australia have been hit by a succession of high-profile injuries with star backs James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale both ruled out of the series. The Wallabies’ woes were further compounded by the loss of their captain James Horwill to a hamstring tear last week.

Chisholm was mightily impressed by the Welsh pack during their march to the Grand Slam, and yesterday’s victory in Cardiff, and reckons the Dragons can dominate the forward battle.

“Coming off the back of the Grand Slam Wales will be full of fight. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to get that scalp,” Chisholm told The Rugby Paper.

“It will be great to see where they are placed against a top southern hemisphere side.

“You saw during the Six Nations that if you get a pack on the front foot it’s a lot easier and the whole Welsh pack is going very well.

“Wales can target any area if they prepare well. Every time I have faced Wales they have had a big pack that works very hard.”

Chisholm also believes Wales can take advantage of a lack of cohesion and unfamiliarity of the new format to the Wallabies season.

For the first time the Super Rugby program runs until August and the southern hemisphere’s summer schedules take place during a three-week international window.

Australia warm-up for their three-match battle with Wales by taking on Scotland in Newcastle on Tuesday.

“It will be interesting to see how Australia cope with the internationals coming in the middle of a split Super Rugby program,” added the Bayonne lock.

“It’s a big hill for them to climb. It all appears to be up in the air.”

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