Wales can’t have any regrets insists skipper Sam Warburton

Australia’s path to the World Cup final has been set, with Scotland and then either Ireland or Argentina standing between them and a record fourth appearance on rugby union’s biggest stage.

Wales will have to be more clinical than they were against Australia, who played 10 minutes in the second half with 13 men but dug deep to emerge unscathed.

Ospreys wing Eli Walker was a late withdrawal ahead of the tournament because of a hamstring injury.

Wales have won just two out of 29 combined tests against southern hemisphere powers South Africa, New Zealand and Australia since Warren Gatland became coach in 2008.

Compounding Wales’ woes, Liam Williams joined their casualty list after he was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a foot injury.

Skipper Sam Warburton insists he has no regrets over the decisions he made when Wales were up against 13 men during their 15-6 World Cup defeat to Australia.

“We are very sorry for Liam”.

“It’s not a secret weapon”, he said.

“He’s been playing outstandingly well, and did pretty well again yesterday until his injury”.

It was not quite the hostile or critical inquisition that greeted England captain Chris Robshaw when the hosts could have sealed a draw against Wales two weeks previously and Warburton was unequivocal.

“If anyone comes in [to the squad] it will be an opportunity for them”. “Disappointed we lost today, but definitely back ourselves for next week”.

“We missed too many tackles last week against England”.

“Anything can happen in rugby”.

“Any country would back themselves to go over, it’s disappointing we didn’t manage to get more from the scrum and driving lineout considering they were a man down in the pack but at the same time you have to give Aus credit”.

“We have had incredible bad luck, there is no doubt about that”.

When young gun back-rower Sean McMahon left the field, and veteran openside David Pocock immediately went down with a calf injury, things looked as though they were unravelling for the Aussies. “He took a bump, but he will be fine for Saturday”.

A loss would have put Australia in a tougher game against South Africa.

The Wallabies face Pool B runners-up Scotland in their quarter-final clash next Sunday, while Wales have a week to recover before a game with South Africa.

Scotland have beaten Australia in two of their last three meetings and Wales overcame South Africa the last time the teams met – albeit after a 16-game losing streak – but the southern hemisphere teams are on a roll.

“There is no denying that they will bring a varied game and it will be a huge, huge task to stop them”. It was a different type of game for us so we just had to show a different skin. “They threw their bodies on the line”. We finished second in the pool in 2011 and came so close to going all the way.

“It was highly stressful, I won’t lie”.

“Obviously, there are slightly easier routes to the final, but that is the path we are on and we will have to front up for it”.