The Welsh Rugby Union recently changed the way media interviews with its players are conducted before international matches. Rather than the feeding frenzies of old, the routine now is for interview requests to be made in advance, with tables set aside with the names of players on them.

Earlier this week, however, the Wales flanker Colin Charvis avoided his allocated seat, preferring to stand outside the interview room, leaning on a banister ready for a swift exit. He knew, with Australia the next opponents, he would be questioned about the Lions and he is not one to couch his replies in spin.

The 29-year old, who tomorrow wins his 42nd cap for Wales, publicly voiced his disenchantment at the way he was treated by the Lions during the summer tour in Australia: he won two caps as a replacement but felt he had not been given the chance to stake his claim for a Test place and used the Internet to make his point. "I had half a suitcase packed," he said at the time. Before the start of the season Charvis had a long talk with the Wales (and Lions) coach Graham Henry, who asked him to refrain from talking about the tour publicly.

"I do not feel I have a point to prove against Australia," said Charvis. "I have played against them before for Wales and what happened in the summer is now at the back of my mind. There were Welsh players in Australia, like Rob Howley and Scott Quinnell, who proved themselves in the Tests and enhanced their reputations. The rest of us have to hope that we can put some shit results in the last six weeks behind us and guarantee our futures."

Wales are not expected to win despite Australia's defeats by England and France this month. Home advantage has counted for nothing against the Wallabies in the last 20 years, with heavy defeats in 1984, 1991 and 1992 followed by a gallant, if unsuccessful, display in the 1999 World Cup quarter-final. Wales last beat Australia in the 1987 World Cup play-off, when they had a man advantage for 76 minutes, and their only other victory against major Southern Hemisphere opposition in that time came against South Africa in Cardiff two years ago.

"That was the high point during my time in Wales," said Henry. "The Millennium Stadium only held 25,000 then but the atmosphere was so powerful that I wondered what it would be like when 73,000 packed into it. Unfortunately we have not given the crowd enough to shout about since then but this is a young Welsh team on the verge of, I believe, exciting times."

Supporters will arrive at the ground in hope rather than expectation, and a heavy defeat will see Henry having again to defend his position. "It seems that the coach of every major rugby nation in the world is under pressure," he said. "People are lacking pragmatism and they make difficult jobs even harder."

Under Henry Wales have performed best when least is expected of them but they will need to defend better tomorrow than they have for a year if they are to remain in touching distance. And Charvis has a key role to play.

Swansea have released coach John Plumtree after reaching an agreement with the New Zealander. Paul Moriarty and Tony Clement will share coaching duties for the rest of the season.

WALES: K Morgan; W Proctor, J Robinson, I Harris, G Thomas; S Jones, R Howley; S John, R McBryde, D Morris, I Gough, A Moore, C Charvis, B Sinkinson, S Quinnell (capt). Replacements: B Williams, D Jones, C Wyatt, G Thomas, D Peel, A Marinos, R Williams.

AUSTRALIA: M Burke; B Tune, G Bond, E Flatley, J Roff; S Larkham, G Gregan (capt); N Stiles, M Foley, B Darwin, M Cockbain, D Giffin, O Finegan, P Waugh, T Kefu. Replacements: B Cannon, R Moore, J Harrison, G Smith, C Whitaker, S Kefu, C Latham.

Referee: S Lander (England).