WALES boss Warren Gatland hopes that this weekend it will be the northern hemisphere’s turn to sneak the spoils, writes Chris Kirwan.

Australia head to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday looking to make it nine wins on the spin against Wales, a run that was extended by Kurtley Beale’s last-gasp score in December 2012.

It was New Zealand’s turn to prove their mettle in both codes last weekend – the league boys snatching the win against England at Wembley and the union team stealing the spoils from Ireland in Dublin.

Gatland has a woeful record against Sanzar nations and knows that his squad needs to learn from the big three of the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia.

“It's that never-give-in attitude,” said the New Zealander. “I can only talk about my own experiences. You fight until your last breath with everything you've got.

“That's the mindset and you try to bring that same attitude into the squads you are dealing with.

“With the Welsh team we've worked hard and are in great shape physically, and it's about transferring that into the little one-percenters that we are now talking about.

“The pleasing thing for me as a coach in this campaign is how we fixed for the Argentina game the areas where we were a bit exposed and underdone against South Africa.

“There have also been other improvements. It's just about little fine margins and making sure we keep working on those. Then with a bit of luck you get across the line.”

Gatland has made five changes to the team beaten 24-15 by South Africa in the autumn opener, wing Alex Cuthbert, centre Owen Williams, fly-half Dan Biggar, prop Rhodri Jones and lock Ian Evans getting the nod.

He said the fly-half call between Biggar and Rhys Priestland had been "really tight", while he also revealed that second-row forward Evans was recovering from a knock.

"He hasn't taken much part in training this week," Gatland added. "He will probably do some full-contact stuff on Thursday.”

Former Dragons blindside Dan Lydiate is selected ahead of Justin Tipuric who is joined among the replacements by Ryan Jones, who captained the side from number eight against Tonga but will cover second row.

Wales are without injured locks Bradley Davies and Dragons captain Andrew Coombs, while Luke Charteris has returned to Perpignan as Saturday's Test falls outside the International Rugby Board's autumn window and the French club do not have to release him.

Wales: L Halfpenny, A Cuthbert, O Williams, S Williams, G North, D Biggar, M Phillips, G Jenkins, R Hibbard, R Jones, A W Jones, I Evans, D Lydiate, S Warburton (captain), T Faletau. Replacements: K Owens, R Bevington, S Lee, R Jones, J Tipuric, R Williams, R Priestland, L Williams.