Giteau humbled by 100th cap at RWC

“My dad had a leakage and needed open-heart surgery”, explains Foley, now certain to start at fly-half in Australia’s World Cup quarter-final against Scotland and already one of the stars of this tournament.

They are widely tipped to win the competition, and with Scotland up next followed by one of Ireland or Argentina in the semi final, the Wallabies are a safe bet for a final spot.

He told reporters: “I think for me it’s not really a week to be reflecting on things, we’ve got a great opportunity to play in a quarter-final of a World Cup and that’s more than enough to play for”.

There is a real clear understanding that we will need a better defensive effort going into the knockout stages of the tournament that we’re in.

The Wallaby head coach has done a miraculous job over the past year in transforming the culture of a team that was in dire straits under Ewen McKenzie.

But Wales nevertheless emerged from the tournament “s so-called ‘pool of death” in second place behind Australia, and they will face the Springboks in Saturday’s opening last-eight encounter.

He played 92 Tests before he was unceremoniously dumped by then-coach Robbie Deans on the eve of the 2011 World Cup.

“He didn’t train today but we’re hopeful he’ll be right to train [on Wednesday], and the way we have been selecting the team is if he is fit to play on game day, he is available to be selected”, Larkham said.

“From a half-back point of view, it’s been quite seamless and I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to play with Fols”.

The ruptured ACL ruined his first game as Wallabies captain, his first long-term injury, setting back the milestone.

Wallaby vice-captain Michael Hooper.

“For me it’s no different to any of the other Test matches I’ve played”.

The team debrief of that 13-minute period when the Wallabies were short of numbers won’t make pleasant viewing at the Wales squad base in Weybridge this week. “The players feel comfortable in this sort of environment and we know we can beat South Africa having done so last November in Cardiff a few months after one play cost us over there”.

“We’re going to go out and attack and take the game to them”, the Glasgow centre predicted.

“It’s one of those things where you build bonds and you go through the grind together of busting a gut to work hard at training where you build that trust and respect”. You’re probably sick of hearing me say that, but it felt in the Six Nations that we were getting somewhere and building something good, and we’re starting to see that again. However, they refused to take the points from the penalties received and instead looked to go for tries making use of their lineouts.

Nearly a decade ago Johnson responded to spying claims from New Zealand by fronting the media in camouflage kit, and the Wallabies expect more of his tricks at Twickenham on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT).