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Wales to face Sanzar sweep
30/04/2008 16:45 - (SA)
Cardiff - Wales will celebrate 100 years of Test rugby against Australia with an international against the Wallabies in Cardiff in November as part of a series of matches that month also featuring New Zealand and South Africa.
Canada will be Six Nations Grand Slam champions Wales's other opponents in a series of matches at the capital's Millennium Stadium that will take place in consecutive weeks.
The series begins with world champions South Africa coming to Cardiff on November 8 before Canada arrive on November 14.
Then come the All Blacks, for what will be their first match at the Millennium Stadium since they lost last year's World Cup quarter-final there against France, with Australia wrapping up the programme on November 29.
"I am delighted that in one great month of rugby we now have the prospect of testing ourselves against all the best of the southern hemisphere teams," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
"South Africa, New Zealand and Australia are all World Cup winners so it will be an important milestone in our progression towards the 2011 World Cup," the New Zealander added.
The best
"I have always said we must test ourselves against the best and I am delighted we have been able to secure this series," said Gatland, yet to lose a match as Wales coach.
Gatland is currently getting ready for Wales's two-Test tour of South Africa in June and believes the matches against the Springboks are an ideal test for a side that has proved itself the best in Europe this year.
"We will have played the current world champions three times this year by the end of November and that is just the sort of benchmark rugby we require in order to keep getting better."
However, he added: "I am also very mindful of the fact that these games come just prior to a very important two weeks in Europe for each of our four regions, so we need to be aware and ensure that individual players are going back to regional rugby in their optimum condition."
Wales beat Australia 9-6 in Cardiff in 1908 but the Wallabies have generally had the upper hand in meetings between the two countries with 17 wins and a draw from 27 matches.
Tests
Wales Tests in November (all at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff)
Nov 08: Wales v South Africa (14:30GMT)
Nov 14: Wales v Canada (19:30GMT)
Nov 22: Wales v New Zealand (17:15GMT)
Nov 29: Wales v Australia (time TBC)
- AFP
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