Pool of potential perils for Warren Gatland’s team

A clean sweep against the remaining sides in their pool, Tonga, Georgia and Namibia should be enough to get Argentina into the quarter-finals and a clash against the winners of Pool D, likely to be either France or Ireland.

“It’s just part of World Cup policy”.

But if anyone is to blame, it is Wales.

“But they were all incredibly positive and excited about the challenge ahead”.

Wales’ defeat by Australia in late November of that year, a match played purely for financial gain, backfired spectacularly. “They have electric backs and play expansive rugby”.

Rusty MacLean, Rugby School Museum librarian and archivist, said: “England today wears white because numerous founding members of the Rugby Football Union in 1871 went to Rugby School – some of whom are probably pictured here”.

First-choice scrum-half Webb picked up a serious foot injury while talismanic full-back and kicker Halfpenny ruptured his knee ligaments and neither man is expected to return to the field until next year.

Moriarty’s call-up does leave Wales a tad short in the back three with Hallam Amos, Alex Cuthbert and Matthew Morgan fighting for two matchday squad places alongside sure starters Liam Williams and George North.

The All Blacks won the tournament in 1987 and 2011 but have never clinched the title away from their own shores, frequently buckling under the inevitable heat that comes with being heavy favorites.

Wales start their campaign against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday and Edwards is trying to ensure his players have the right attitude against the weakest team in the pool.

Stephen Mault, Head of Media, PR and Sponsorship at Betfair commented: “We are delighted to have two heroes of the sport on board with Betfair for the Rugby World Cup”.

“Look, if you [the media] can do your jobs and write us off as much as possible and we can come in there being written off, which seems to be happening at the moment, that’s always the best situation for a Wales team to be in“, Gatland said.

The 2007 tournament might have been forgettable from an Irish perspective but Leamy has fond memories of his first outing against Namibia.

He said: “It’s kind of like a welcoming home for me”.

“I don’t think about it massively”, he said of his meteoric rise.

Sir Clive Woodward, Jonny Wilkinson, Jason Robinson and Lawrence Dallaglio are not bad for starters – Michael Lynagh, Francois Pienaar and Sean Fitzpatrick ticking the southern hemisphere boxes.

“It is hard, but we are a close-knit bunch and the core of the squad has been together for a while. We’ve been building towards this tournament all the time”, said Fiji coach John McKee.