Saturday's Millennium Stadium clash between Wales and Australia is the final international Test for both teams this year – with a win capping off a successful 2008 for the victors.

We could, of course, claim this to be a litmus test for both nations; but the reality is that each has had a good year.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has achieved far more than his predecessors and no one doubts that he is making Australia a world power again.  The biggest defeat inflicted on New Zealand in nine years, two wins against the world champion Springboks, and a ten-win season in sight – not achieved since the halcyon days of 1999.

Two of Australia’s losses – 39-10 to the All Blacks in Eden Park and 53-8 to the Springboks in Johannesburg – were unavoidable, with history’s two best teams playing with such fury and pride on those days that no country in the world would have won.  But the other two losses to the All Blacks were games the Wallabies could and should have won.

Indeed, the ability to perform consistently over 80 minutes is one of the final strokes that Deans will wish to add to his green and gold magnum opus.

Warren Gatland, another well regarded Kiwi coach, came to Wales in crisis after losing to Fiji at the 2007 World Cup. However, under his tutelage they recorded their second Six-Nations Grand Slam in four years – playing a heady mix of Waikato structure and Welsh flair.   

Like the Wallabies, Wales have only lost this season to the world’s two top teams, but in all but the first Test against the Springboks, they have not been out of place. Welsh media believed that the first half against the All Blacks was the best 40 minutes of football that the Red Dragons had played in many years; unfortunately for them, New Zealand responded with their best 40 minutes of the year.

The Wallabies are eyeing a piece of history - to become the first Australian side to march through Europe unbeaten since 1996. This year has seen them overcome one of their great modern weaknesses, the ability to win away from home.

The Welsh, though, bring a game plan based on set-piece parity, combined with intimidating smother defence and a slick intuitive attack that Australia have only faced this year against teams they have lost to. By that fact alone, Gatland’s men will be far stronger for playing the All Blacks in their last game.

As impressive as the Wallabies have been in winning most of their European games, they have not wiped the floor with any of their foes. And while Italy, England and France have bought formidable forward challenges which Deans’ men  have not wilted to, Wales will bring a free-flowing game that Australia may struggle with.

Ironically, the Wallabies look stronger in the pack than the home team. Stephen Moore is close to being the best rake in the world at the moment, and Al Baxter is enjoying a renaissance being supported by rapidly-improving prop Benn Robinson. 

Flanker Hugh McMeniman has covered Rocky Elsom’s huge loss this year – and heavy artillery waits on the bench in the form of George Smith.

The big weakness for Australia could be Luke Burgess, who this week has been heavily criticised, with former Wales No.10 Gareth Davies saying the young NSW scrum-half needs to spend the next six months learning how to pass. 

If he cannot link with Matt Giteau, who the Welsh believe – and rightly so – is the Wallabies’ biggest attacking threat, it could be a disappointing end to the tour.

Wales will be wise to the Wallaby challenge, with 627 international caps in their starting 15. Mark Jones’s restoration to the team sees him combine with the outstanding Lee Byrne and new World Player of the Year Shane Williams; such a dangerous threequarter line could be the winning of the game for Wales.

Wales have a poor recent record against the Wallabies, beating them just twice in 21 years. Gatland’s men will strive to return the rivalry to the early years of rugby – where Australia could only manage two victories against them between 1908 and 1975.

A win for Australia will cap off a fine season for Deans and his troops, the progress made this year allowing them to legitimately challenge New Zealand and South Africa for world supremacy.

If Wales can pull of a big win (15+) and the All Blacks do the expected and defeat England, the men in red will jump two places to fourth in the world, and will enjoy the privilege of heading a pool of their own at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. 

They are also the Northern  Hemisphere’s best chance of breaking the Tri-Nations duck, with no European team having yet defeated SANZAR’s big three in 2008.