Mike Brown angry that Michael Hooper got off lightly

Australia underlined their credentials as title contenders with an impressive 33-13 win over England last weekend that knocked the tournament hosts, beaten 28-25 by Wales the previous week, out of the event.

“What he did with Leinster, he put structure and discipline in”, said Gatland.

“It’s one kick”, Gatland added”.

“I was looking forward to playing against both of them”, Warburton said.

“I rang Stuart during the week and left a message, and he texted me back and said he appreciated the support”.

“And that has pleased me, because there has been a lot of noise around us (since the England win), so for the players to stay consistent is good”. To me, that’s more important than the rugby. “We all understand the pressures of professional sport and what you have to deal with”.

“I do think we have a very strong bench, people who can influence a game”.

Saturday’s Twickenham clash will decide which of the two countries tops the pool and avoids twice champions South Africa in the last eight, as well as a potential semi-final against the All Blacks.

Wales are on a 10-match losing streak against the Wallabies but the margins of defeat have been getting smaller.

We are still in the middle of nearly a war zone.

Cheika told reporters at a central London news conference on 8 October that he was more concerned that the Wallabies maintained their winning ways with victory on 10 October at Twickenham, rather than ensuring an easier quarter final.

Experience comes from that and showed in our recent big games. “We closed that game down, and were brilliant in the last 15 minutes against England, coming from behind and showing maturity to close that game down”.

Australia coach Michael Cheika has no special plans to protect flyhalf Bernard Foley from an expected Wales onslaught in their Rugby World Cup Pool A decider at Twickenham on Saturday.

Elsewhere, prop Paul James returns from injury and replaces Gethin Jenkins, Luke Charteris features at lock and skipper Sam Warburton moves to blindside flanker, with openside Justin Tipuric handed a start.

Reflecting on North’s switch, Gatland said: “The last time they (North and Roberts) played together was against Australia”.

“It’s more the process of the way we we’re going about defending, which has been impressive”.

“But I rate him highly and thought he would play at a few stage in their pool matches”.

“They like to use the ball and they have looked pretty sharp”.

“We’ve trained well this week, had a full squad to pick from and it is great to welcome back players from injury”.

There have since been reports that Bath centre Burgess is poised to return to league, although his club coach Mike Ford, another former rugby league man who went on to become defence coach for the England team notably at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, is adamant he will stick it out and try and win a place in the 2019 World Cup.