Howley wary ‘clinical’ Australia will want to put a marker down

Rob Howley expects Wales to face Australia’s tried and tested quality when the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool rivals clash in Cardiff next week.

It has been far from plain sailing for the Wallabies during their European tour preparations, a five-game schedule that starts against the Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday.

Kurtley Beale was dropped for the last two Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina and New Zealand after becoming embroiled in a high-profile row with Wallabies business manager Di Patston, who has since resigned. The 25-year-old was fined £24,640 after being found guilty of a serious breach of the Australian RUs code of conduct.