AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS NEWS: WALES COACH Warren Gatland has identified playmaker Matt Giteau as the man his team must stop in their quest for an overdue Tri-Nations scalp.
A week after Wales managed a reasonable containing job on New Zealand's outhalf superstar Dan Carter, their task does not get any easier.
Giteau has shone throughout Australia's unbeaten European tour, guiding them to a biggest victory over England at Twickenham since 1984 and wins over France and Italy. He has averaged 15 points during the last three games and Gatland knows the Western Force player is producing irresistible form on a weekly basis.
Gatland said: "When Dan Carter is on top of his game and dominating, the All Blacks get a flow, and it's the same with Australia and Giteau.
"They are very reliant on his kicking game, but also his running game. We've just got to make sure we shut down his space. He is deceptively strong in the tackle area, he runs nice lines and he knows when to take a gap. For me, those two (outhalf) positions the last couple of weeks have been pretty critical.
"We did a lot of work last week (on Carter), and it will be the same sort of approach this week in terms of trying to shut down Matt's game."
Gatland has made two changes to his team for the autumn Test finale, with Scarlets wing Mark Jones replacing Cardiff Blues' teenager Leigh Halfpenny and lock Ian Gough taking over from his injured Ospreys colleague Ian Evans.
Evans is out for the season and faces surgery after suffering knee ligament damage during the 29-9 loss to New Zealand.
Australia coach Robbie Deans made five changes to his side from the team that beat France last Saturday. Four of the changes come in the forwards where Western Force number eight Richard Brown replaces Wycliff Palu who injured his shoulder against France. Phil Waugh will start at flanker and Brumbies lock Mark Chisholm and Waratahs prop Benn Robinson are also included.
Ryan Cross is the only change in the backline, returning after missing the Paris match because of illness.
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