James Botham insists Wales can bounce back against Australia after kicking off the Autumn Nations Series with defeat to Fiji.

Botham is one of four changes for Warren Gatland’s side, joining Ellis Bevan, Ben Thomas and Cam Winnett in the starting line-up, with five Blue & Blacks named in the squad.

The back-row forward admits the entire group have been bitterly disappointed with the Fiji defeat and that there have been some honest conversations but he insists Wales must stick together and come out fighting.

Botham said: “Obviously we’re gutted with the result. There was a lot of good stuff out there, but it’s just those one percenters you need to get right this weekend and hopefully you’ll have a different result. 

“Everyone’s been honest with each other and that’s the best way to be. Like I say, getting back to that, there’s just these small percentages we need to be clinical with and just avoid those silly mistakes. It’s one of those things, we’ve reflected on it and all we can do is give our best game on the weekend. 

“The whole team, we’re all in there together. It’s not just individuals. It’s for us and the coaches and everyone to come together, get a solution and then show everyone else what we can do on the weekend. 

“It’s being a professional athlete, you’ve got to look at the positives from it, not just dwell on the negatives, because if you just keep dwelling on the negatives, you’re just going to get yourself into a hole and it’s just going to become 12, 13, 14, that’s how it goes. 

“So it’s just coming out of that, being positive, coming together as one, as a team, not just individually, and then getting the result on the weekend.

“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe in it. We’re all in it together and with this group everyone is so with each other and on each other that we can get through anything together.”

The Wallabies claimed back-to-back wins against Wales in the summer and kicked off the autumn with a hugely impressive victory over England.

Australia appear rejuvenated under Joe Schmidt with returning and emerging stars giving them a new look and quality on both sides of the ball.

And Botham knows an in form and confident side will be pitching up at the Principality Stadium come Sunday.

Obviously, being away in the summer, we knew what they were going to come with. They want to be physical and stuff, but it’s up to us to put it on them. We need to show how physical we are and just take it up to them, really. 

“Their win over England just shows you that everyone now is at a competitive level and anything can happen really. It showed they’re in it until the end and it shows that we’ve got to be in to the end on Sunday.”

Enjoy the best of the pre and post match atmosphere on Sunday at the Official Guinness Fan Village at Cardiff Arms Park!