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Leigh expects tight battle

Leigh expects tight battle

Leigh Halfpenny expects today’s game to go down to the wire as Wales look for a first win in seven against Australia.

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The Cardiff Blues full back has been one of Wales’ star performers in their first three games of the Dove Men Series and he knows Wales face a tough ask at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales have got to know Australia well in recent times, slipping to three defeats to the Wallabies over the summer, albeit in a series decided by just a handful of points.

Halfpenny’s boot was vital to Wales in that series and he expects today’s game to be similarly close.

“All the Tests in the summer were back and forth and kick for kick,” he said.

“Every kick will be vital at the weekend and I need to make sure that when I go into the game I’m confident.”

At just under 14 stone, Halfpenny is one of the smaller members of the Wales squad in a modern game which is now immensely physical.

And the hugely competitive full back admits he has found Wales’ recent poor run of form hard to deal with. Losses to Argentina, Samoa and New Zealand followed the tour defeat in Australia but Halfpenny says Wales must look to the future.

“I don’t deal with losing too well and it has been difficult,” he added.

“When you put on the Wales jersey you want to do it justice but when it doesn’t go your way you have just got to pick yourself back up.

“Every time I lose a game I’m a nightmare to be around. I’m desperate for a win and I really hope it comes this weekend.”

As usual, Wales have been doing their utmost to prepare for today’s game with Halfpenny aware of the danger of his opposite number Berrick Barnes.

“As always this week I have put in the hard work and I’m taking it kick by kick. As soon as I get a kick over that rush of confidence comes through me,” he added.

“I’m looking to continue putting in the hard work and hopefully it will pay off, I’m pretty pleased with how the kicking has gone.

“Berrick Barnes is a great player who can pretty much play anywhere, he’s got a great kicking game so that’s something we need to watch out for.”

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