Wales name Rugby World Cup team to face Australia

Gatland, who coached the British & Irish Lions to a series win in Australia two years ago, was confident Warburton could repeat his breakdown heroics on that tour today.

“We have been impressed with Australia so far in this competition, and we know a step up is required at Twickenham this weekend”.

“I know how hard the challenge is mentally as well as physically”, he said.

“I wouldn’t like to compare the two (England and Wales) like-for-like, it’s almost impossible”.

“It’s one kick”, Gatland added”.

“Warren has placed a lot of emphasis on this, but he has given the boys a bit of freedom and told the boys they can go out and play a bit this week”.

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

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

“I’ve been out of the game of rugby league for quite a long time now. We all understand the pressures of professional sport and what you have to deal with”.

“I wanted to wait to name the team until after training as the bench will be very important to have strong finishers as Wales will play it down to the wire”, said Cheika.

Wales have lost their last 10 Tests against Australia but Biggar took heart from the way the team upset the odds to beat England, a match in which the Welsh were three-times behind by 10 points.

Douglas has been a force in defence during the World Cup keeping his completion rate well above 80% and forcing a couple of crucial turnovers. Gatland’s men are valued at 49/20 to beat the Aussies and give themselves an easier quarter-final.

Edwards hinted that Wales would feel more comfortable with a likely quarter-final against Scotland which, if they won, could lead to another Six Nations opponent in France or Ireland.

“The hearing related to a consideration of sanction only given the admission of the act of foul play by the Player”, said the World Rugby statement.

“You learn from that, and experience comes from that and it showed in the autumn against South Africa”.

Paul James returns from injury to start in the front row alongside hooker Scott Baldwin and prop Samson Lee.

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

Anscombe, whose mother is from Cardiff, was called into the squad as an injury replacement last month, and he has overcome an ankle problem himself to regain full fitness.

“We will have to be at our best offensively and defensively, in fact all facets of our game must really be up there if we are to be in contention in the game”.

The superstar fullback was largely a spectator at Twickenham as his teammates went about final preparations – to the tune of ACDC’s Thunderstruck which was being belted out over the PA system – for their Pool A decider at the Rugby World Cup.

“What he did with Leinster, putting structure and discipline in, and he was incredibly successful”. “He did the same with the Waratahs and now with Australia”.