Wales v Australia

Fan bets £30,000 on Wales victory

ESPN Staff

Australia broke Welsh hearts in Cardiff last December © Getty Images Enlarge

A Pontypridd punter has put £30,000 of money won on a football accumulator on Wales beating Australia in their final autumn international at the Millennium Stadium.

Steve Richards won an incredible £38,000 on a dozen football matches from a £10 bet, but clearly does not believe his lucky streak is due to end any time soon. The 56-year-old stands to double his money if Wales do beat Australia - which they have done just once in their last 23 encounters with the Wallabies.

But Richards is convinced Wales' fortune is due to change this weekend - even if his decision has been met with amazement by his loved ones.

Richards told Wales Online: "I've got a partner - she thinks I'm mad. But the football bet only cost £10. I think it will be very close. It's only three good players we've got out. I think Australia will be tired in this one.

"To be quite honest I can't see them losing. Don't get me wrong, I don't think there will be a lot in the game. If we're strong enough we could win by about two scores I would think eight points or something like that. But other than that there's only going to be two points or three points that's in it.

"The World Cup is in two years' time in this country, they really need to put one over on Australia. I don't think Australia are the strongest team at the moment. I think they're the weakest out of ourselves, New Zealand and South Africa."

Alex Donohue, of Ladbrokes, admitted it was the biggest bet he had ever seen placed on the Welsh national team.

"We've never seen such confidence in Wales before," he said.

"They say fortune favours the brave so we're fully expecting to pay out when Cuthbert and co do the business in Cardiff. We wish Mr Richards the very best of luck. If he hits us twice in the space of a week we'll just have to tip our hats to him and pay out with a smile."

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