In June 2012, Wales toured Australia as part of the 2012 mid-year rugby test series. They faced Australia in a series of three internationals across the eastern states, starting at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, then moving on to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, before finishing in Sydney at the Sydney Football Stadium. In addition, they played a tour match against one of Australia's domestic clubs, the Brumbies, at Canberra Stadium.

Before flying to Australia, Wales also held a one-off match at home so that Rob Howley, the caretaker coach, could finalise the squad. This was held at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff against the Barbarians.

During this tour, Wales were attempting to regain the James Bevan Trophy they lost in 2009, when Australia beat them 33–12 in Cardiff. They had won it the previous year, 21–18. However, the last time Wales beat Australia in Australia was in 1969, when they won 19–16.

This tour was the most keenly anticipated rugby tour of the 2012 tours, with Wales going into it as Grand Slam winners of the 2012 Six Nations and Australia as winners of the 2011 Tri Nations.

Wales lost the series 3–0, continuing their history of not having won in Australia for 43 years. However, all matches were close encounters, and they scored 61 points to Australia's 72. They also played a return match in Cardiff in the 2012 Autumn Internationals that ended in a similar narrow defeat, 14–12.

In the last three matches between the two teams, Wales led with five minutes to go and Australia snatched victory from them.

Schedule Date Venue Home Score Away 2 June 30–21 Barbarians 9 June 27–19 12 June Brumbies 15–25 16 June 25–23 23 June 20–19

Squads Wales Towards the end of May, the bulk of the Welsh squad left for Australia, leaving a handful of players to face the Barbarians. After Wales' win over the Barbarians, the few players who had earned their place in the squad during the game left for Australia to join up with the team. Caretaker coach Rob Howley announced a 35-man squad to take to Australia.

Coach: Rob Howley (caretaker)

Australia Robbie Deans announced his squad to face Wales at the beginning of June. The public already knew that James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale and usual captain James Horwill would all be out of the tour due to injury. From this, Robbie Deans was able to announce his 40-man squad. On 19 June, it was revealed that Beale would return for the third and final test against Wales.

Head coach: Robbie Deans

Warm-up matches Wales vs Barbarians

FB 15Liam WilliamsRW 14Harry Robinson OC 13Andrew BishopIC 12James HookLW 11Aled BrewFH 10Dan Biggar SH 9 Lloyd Williams N8 8 Ryan Jones OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Josh Turnbull RL 5 Ian EvansLL 4 Alun Wyn Jones TP 3 Rhodri Jones HK 2 Matthew Rees (c) LP 1 Rhys Gill Replacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17Paul James LK 18Aaron Shingler FL 19Martyn Williams SH 20Rhys Webb CE 21Adam Warren FB 22Will Harries Coach:Rob Howley FB 15 Mils Muliaina RW 14 Isa NacewaOC 13 Mike Tindall IC 12 Casey LaulalaLW 11 Shane WilliamsFH 10 Stephen DonaldSH 9 Richie Rees N8 8 Johnnie BeattieOF 7 Mamuka Gorgodze BF 6 Francois LouwRL 5 Mark ChisholmLL 4 Mick O'Driscoll TP 3 John Smit (c) HK 2 Benoît August LP 1 Duncan JonesReplacements:HK 16 Aled de Malmanche PR 17 Neemia Tialata LK 18 Anton van Zyl N8 19 Akapusi Qera SH 20 Rory Lawson WG 21 Sailosi Tagicakibau FB 22 Cédric Heymans Coach:John Kirwan Notes: The Welsh Rugby Union announced that this would be a fully capped match. As a result, Martyn Williams became the third Welsh player to reach 100 caps when he came off the bench. It was also announced that this match would see the last international appearances for Martyn Williams and Wales top try-scorer Shane Williams. Four players made their full international debuts for Wales: Rhodri Jones, Harry Robinson, Liam Williams and Adam Warren.

Brumbies vs Wales

FB 15Robbie Coleman RW 14Cam CrawfordOC 13Tevita KuridraniIC 12Andrew SmithLW 11Kimami SitautiFH 10Zack HolmesSH 9 Ian Prior N8 8 Ita Vaea OF 7 Colby FaingaaBF 6 Peter KimlinRL 5 Ben Hand (c)LL 4 Leon Power TP 3 Scott Sio HK 2 Anthony Hegarty LP 1 Ruaidhri MurphyReplacements:HK 16Siliva SilivaPR 17JP Pradaud LK 18Dylan Sigg LK 19Fotu Auelua SH 20Beau Mokoputo FH 21Tom Cox WG 22Jesse MoggCoach:Jake White FB 15Liam WilliamsRW 14Harry RobinsonOC 13Andrew BishopIC 12Ashley BeckLW 11Aled Brew FH 10James HookSH 9 Rhys WebbN8 8 Aaron Shingler OF 7 Justin TipuricBF 6 Josh TurnbullRL 5 Luke CharterisLL 4 Alun Wyn Jones (c) TP 3 Rhodri JonesHK 2 Richard Hibbard LP 1 Paul James Replacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Rhys Gill LK 18Ian Evans N8 19Gareth Delve SH 20Lloyd Williams FH 21Rhys PriestlandWG 22Alex Cuthbert Coach:Rob Howley Touch judges: Andrew Lees (Australia) Will Houston (Australia)

Test matches First test

FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Cooper Vuna OC 13Rob Horne IC 12Pat McCabeLW 11Digby IoaneFH 10Berrick Barnes SH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 David Pocock (c) BF 6 Scott HigginbothamRL 5 Nathan Sharpe LL 4 Rob SimmonsTP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Benn Robinson Replacements:HK 16Stephen Moore PR 17Ben Alexander LK 18Dave Dennis FL 19Michael Hooper SH 20Nic WhiteCE 21Anthony Fainga'a CE 22Mike HarrisCoach:Robbie Deans FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Scott Williams LW 11George North FH 10Rhys PriestlandSH 9 Mike PhillipsN8 8 Taulupe Faletau OF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan Lydiate RL 5 Luke Charteris LL 4 Bradley Davies TP 3 Adam Jones HK 2 Ken Owens LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Matthew Rees PR 17Paul James LK 18Alun Wyn Jones N8 19Ryan Jones SH 20Lloyd WilliamsFH 21James Hook CE 22Ashley Beck Coach:Rob Howley Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand) Garratt Williamson (New Zealand) Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand) Notes Cooper Vuna (Australia) and Ashley Beck (Wales) made their international debuts.

Second test

FB 15Adam Ashley-CooperRW 14Cooper Vuna OC 13Rob HorneIC 12Pat McCabeLW 11Digby IoaneFH 10Berrick Barnes SH 9 Will Genia N8 8 Wycliff Palu OF 7 David Pocock (c)BF 6 Scott HigginbothamRL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 Rob Simmons TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Benn Robinson Replacements:HK 16Stephen Moore PR 17Ben Alexander LK 18Dave Dennis FL 19Michael Hooper SH 20Nic WhiteCE 21Anthony Fainga'a CE 22Mike Harris Coach:Robbie Deans FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Ashley BeckLW 11George NorthFH 10Rhys PriestlandSH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Ryan Jones OF 7 Sam Warburton (c)BF 6 Dan LydiateRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 Bradley DaviesTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard PR 17Paul JamesLK 18Luke Charteris FL 19Justin TipuricSH 20Rhys Webb FH 21James HookCE 22Scott WilliamsCoach:Rob Howley

Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa) Garratt Williamson (New Zealand) Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

Third test

FB 15Kurtley BealeRW 14Adam Ashley-CooperOC 13Rob HorneIC 12Pat McCabe LW 11Digby IoaneFH 10Berrick BarnesSH 9 Will GeniaN8 8 Wycliff PaluOF 7 David Pocock (c)BF 6 Scott Higginbotham RL 5 Nathan SharpeLL 4 Sitaleki Timani TP 3 Sekope Kepu HK 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau LP 1 Benn RobinsonReplacements:HK 16Stephen Moore PR 17Ben Alexander LK 18Rob Simmons LK 19Dave Dennis FL 20Michael HooperSH 21Nic WhiteCE 22Anthony Fainga'a Coach:Robbie Deans FB 15Leigh HalfpennyRW 14Alex CuthbertOC 13Jonathan DaviesIC 12Ashley Beck LW 11George NorthFH 10Rhys Priestland SH 9 Mike Phillips N8 8 Ryan Jones OF 7 Sam Warburton (c) BF 6 Dan LydiateRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones LL 4 Bradley DaviesTP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Matthew Rees LP 1 Gethin Jenkins Replacements:HK 16Ken Owens PR 17Paul James LK 18Luke Charteris FL 19Justin Tipuric SH 20Rhys WebbFH 21James Hook CE 22Scott Williams Coach:Rob Howley

See also 2012 mid-year rugby test series 2012 France rugby union tour of Argentina 2012 Scotland rugby union tour of Australia, Fiji and Samoa 2012 Ireland rugby union tour of New Zealand 2012 England rugby union tour of South Africa

References