Edwards says Wales have been the best northern hemisphere performers

Defence coach Shaun Edwards says there is extra pressure on Wales to beat Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.

Wales have already lost to both world champions South Africa and Tri-Nations winners New Zealand.

And Edwards said: "It's been quite a taxing period. I think the Wales performances have so far been the best of the northern hemisphere teams.

"There's a little bit of extra pressure but I think sometimes pressure brings the best out of you."

Wales coach Warren Gatland set a target of beating one of the southern hemisphere sides at the start of the Test series.

And Saturday is their last chance to do it. The only win they have so far in the autumn Tests is against Canada.

But they should be motivated by the prospect of avoiding South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in Monday's draw for the World Cup pool stages.

They could do that by beating Australia by 15 points and England losing to New Zealand which would take Wales to fourth in the IRB world rankings.

"We put in a very credible performance against New Zealand but we need to take the next step and that is to beat one of the southern hemisphere teams," said Edwards.

"We have an opportunity to do that on Saturday.

"The more times we play against teams at this level - and there's no doubt this is a step up - the better you will equip yourselves in that intense atmosphere.

"But what we need to do is start scoring tries again."

England, Ireland and Scotland have all failed to beat the southern hemisphere sides in the autumn Tests.

But Edwards is encouraged by Wales' performances.

"If you look to compare it to the other northern hemisphere performances you would have to say it would be a success because we've been the team so far that has pushed the southern hemisphere teams the closest.

"But we are not really comparing ourselves to teams in the northern hemisphere.

"We are comparing ourselves to our ambitions and we desperately want to get that victory."

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