Wales will go back to roots - Tompkins

Nick Tompkins has played 36 times for Wales

Centre Nick Tompkins says Wales will adopt a simplified game plan against Australia that he admits people might find "boring and tedious".

Wales arrived in Australia on a run of seven international defeats and having finished bottom of the Six Nations for the first time in 21 years.

Warren Gatland's side will face the Wallabies in a two-Test series with the opening game in Sydney on Saturday before the match in Melbourne seven days later.

Tompkins, 29, says Wales plan to go back to basics.

"We will probably have a more simplified game plan," Tompkins told the Rugby Union Daily podcast.

"You are going to see what some people might find boring or tedious but we are going to get back to our roots, working hard and making sure our defence, kicking game and how we compete for the ball is dominant again.

"We are trying to strip things right back and give ourselves something we can hang our hat on and be proud of.

"You have to give yourselves an identity as a team and that's how you breed confidence. You have to start with the fundamentals."

Laying firm foundations

Tompkins believes the attacking game will develop once Wales have laid the foundations.

"Attack takes a while," said Tompkins.

"You look how coherent Ireland are, it's not by magic, it's by a lot of players playing together for Leinster week in week out and they get that continuity and what you need.

"You are not going to get the product straightaway and you need to work on it daily, so that might be the thing that takes a bit longer.

"But in terms of defence, it is getting off the line quicker and whacking people hard and there is a lot of boys that do that very well.

"You can get that aspect and the kicking game a little bit quicker.

"Attack takes a lot of time so the foundations of who we are needs to be done now and the fine tuning of attack and other things can be worked on."

'Wales need to restore pride'

Tompkins will tour Australia for the first time with Wales after travelling to South Africa two years ago

The Saracens centre says Wales are looking to restore some pride.

"It's backs against the wall a little bit and we have to come out fighting and get some pride back," said Tompkins.

"We have not played well for a couple of games now and we demand things of ourselves in this country.

"We have got nothing to lose and need to come out swinging.

"The squad is united. If it was an ageing group this would be a different challenge and more difficult but what comes with youth is exuberance and carefree attitude."

Tompkins admits Wales need to be mentally strong as they aim to end a losing sequence.

"You get tested when you win but especially when you lose you don't want finger pointing, you don't want whispering down corridors and blaming other people," he added.

"You can't shirk or hide from it. You need to address it and move on."

A new Australia

That unity would have been tested by hooker Sam Parry leaving the Wales training camp voluntarily before the defeat to South Africa with claims the Ospreys hooker felt disrespected by head coach Gatland.

"It's a tough situation because I know Sam quite well," said Tompkins.

"He's a lovely boy and a brilliant player. He's been fed up and made his decision. I don't know if I would have done that personally.

"Ultimately he has missed out on an opportunity and I would have loved for him to have been here but it's his personal decision.

"We are getting on with it and you have to."

Wales' opponents on Saturday have also endured difficult recent times on and off the field.

Tompkins scored a try against Australia in the record 40-6 World Cup win in Lyon last year with the Wallabies bowing out.

Head coach Joe Schmidt has taken over from Eddie Jones and selected a new look squad.

"Australia have a good new coach and a squad that's hurting from the World Cup so I am expecting a lot from them," said Tompkins.