Shaun Edwards has admitted he is glad Israel Folau will not be facing Wales on Saturday, but insists the green and gold Wallabies have riches elsewhere.

When Wales open their autumn series at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, the opposition’s most potent match-winner will be back in Australia, having decided to sit out the tour in order to rest mind and body.

Folau has been central to the Aussies’ resurgent year, having scored 12 tries in his last 10 Tests and Wales defence coach Edwards has not tried to mask his relief that the 28-year-old full-back will be absent.

“Folau is Folau,” says Edwards. “He is an incredible player … I am sure they’ll have someone to take his place. But am I glad he’s not playing Saturday? Just a little.

“But they have immense attacking weapons, they have the most potent attacking force in the first three phases in world rugby — even more than the All Blacks.

“There is a multitude of outstanding backs. Karmichael Hunt debuted for the Brisbane Broncos when he was 17 which is an incredible feat.

“Whoever they play at fullback will be a potent force, whether it be Kurtley Beale etc. They have good depth there.”

Australia have not tasted defeat to Wales since 2008, a dominance no amount of success by Warren Gatland’ side in Europe is able to hide.

Last year, Wales lost 32-8 in a shambolic performance and the year before that there was the infamous World Cup defeat when a 13-man Aussies held out without conceding a try to win 15-6.

The tourists will head into the showdown full of confidence following last month’s win over the All Blacks and then racking up 63 points against Japan on Saturday.

The Wallabies’ hold over the Wales is similar to the stranglehold New Zealand had over Michael Cheika’s side before the 24-18 win in Brisbane last month broke the seven-game losing streak against the world champions.

Edwards makes no bones about the fact that 12 straight defeats has reflected a gap between the teams, both on and off the field.

“Last year before we played Australia we only had one training session. Everyone knows they are together for four months before they get here.

“They are like a club team. That is the advantage Southern Hemisphere teams have. That is just the way it is.

“They’re perennially a top-four ranked team and yes, we’ve failed to get the winning edge even when we have played outstandingly.

“I remember when we went to Melbourne in 2012 (and lost in the last minute) and once again last minute in Sydney.

“They had the edge on us last year and were all over us. Hopefully we’ll be that little bit stronger. Definitely the best part of their game is their attack.”

The Australian players began their preparations for this weekend’s clash by training at the Sport Wales National Centre in Cardiff on Monday.

Among those present during the session was Bernard Foley, who missed the nine-try rout of the Japanese through illness.

Cheika was reasonably pleased with his side’s 63-30 victory and said: “’We had moments that were really good and moments that were less effective but we’ve had a huge week where we’ve lost players and we’ve travelled overseas to a new place.

‘We managed the first part of the game really well, which got us into a position where we could try some new combinations so it was a good entree into the rest of the tour.’

Rugby league conver Hunt, who provides Cheika with an option at full-back in place of the rested Folau, is also expected to be available to face Wales after missing the Yokohama match with a neck injury.