Wales coach Warren Gatland handed out a warning to the Wallabies as he named a new captain and a powerful, motivated team for their Rugby World Cup third-place playoff.
The two teams meet at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday in a clash viewed as an unnecessary anti-climax by some critics just days after their title hopes were dashed.
But Gatland made it clear his exciting young team had unfinished business as they look to bounce back from their controversial 9-8 semi-final loss to France in which skipper Sam Warburton was sent off.
They meet the Wallabies again in six weeks time when the Australians make a two-match tour to Britain, and Gatland was adamant they wanted to take bragging rights into that Millennium Stadium clash.
“We face Australia back home in just over a month’s time and are single minded in our assertion that we want that home coming to be a celebration of us achieving the status of one of the top three teams in the world,” said Gatland.
Gatland named prop Gethin Jenkins to take over as skipper in place of the suspended Warburton.
There were three player changes as they look to continue the attacking momentum that made them a talking point of the tournament.
Former skipper Ryan Jones comes from the bench to join the backrow in place of suspended captain Sam Warburton, with Toby Faletau switching from No.8 to the vacant openside flank.
Paul James replaces injured tighthead prop Adam Jones and Bradley Davies comes into the second row to rest Alun Wyn Jones.
With classy young five eighth Rhys Priestland still injured, the backline remains unchanged as James Hook retains the five eighth role despite being subbed off in favour of veteran Stephen Jones when struggling to spark his short-handed team against France.
“We are sticking with the majority of the side which has put together a string of performances for us so far in the tournament,” Gatland said.
“The one change which wasn’t forced is based on the fact Alan Wyn ran himself into the ground when we faced France.”
Wales are already guaranteed their most successful World Cup campaign since the inaugural 1987 tournament in New Zealand – where they beat Australia in the corresponding playoff for third.
But Gatland is not content.
“We have come a long way and put together a string of performances that the nation can be proud of so far in New Zealand.
“And we need to ensure that the history books reflect what we know we are capable of. And it is only by beating the Wallabies on Friday that we feel this will be achieved.”
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Ryan Jones, Toby Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Paul James, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins (capt). Res: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams.
Moaman
Guest
Johhhno-ur a re missing the point mate.....Gatland only mentioned it to justify his attack on the Ref...not to highlight a loophole in the Laws.
Johnno
Guest
I applaud Warren Gatland for haveignthe guts to admit a dirty little secret that goes on rugby union. At least he was being honest, shows he has more integrity for being honest. All teams have considered that yes even your precious wallabies everyone. I have always strongly suspected John Smit in 2009 british lions test 1, he was subbed of after about 60 mintues,, then as the lions were gaining momentum and taking control of the game he came back on for last 5mintues to act as a claiming influence to the team, everyone at the time said the prop who went off did not look to bad. Smit came back on calmed the boks down and kept cool heads and they just won. So this sort of stuff gets contemplated in rugby all the time. Warren Gatland is just begin honest and opening up about it.
Scarlet
Guest
I too fervently hope that Gatland never gets near a coaching post in NZ. He has done an excellent job in Wales where there is some strength in depth developing and a team that is playing well and one of the best teams in the competition, obviously depending on your own national perspective. So, the longer he stays with Wales the happier I am for the forseeable future.
Hooker 1
Guest
If Cooper plays well against the Welsh then he should be sacked! It will prove he can't handle the big games. And now we get Mr Sharp onto the field when it is a game for 2nd of the losers. Time to look at applying for Kiwi citizenship, oh to have a team that plays as a team and has real pride in the jumper. OHang on, is that Ewen coming thru the door.............
Moaman
Guest
Thanks AC...I skimmed the article and missed that.
AC
Guest
Faletau moves to "the vacant openside flank" position according to this article.
Moaman
Guest
Chris....I would note also in regards to Warburton,that he made a very similar tackle on Ronan O'Gara in the quarters--only on that occasion a second welsh player lowered O'Gara down.Warburton might want to review his tackling technique. Neil Jenkins is quoted in the Guardian as saying " you don't miss 4 (goal)kicks in a semi and not lose" <----Someone tell Piri Weepu that...but at least he is proffering another reason for Wales not winning rather than clutching at picking on the Ref as a convenient scapegoat as Gatland has done.I agree that Preistland was a huge loss,along with the departure early of the grizzled Adam Jones.The sub(James) looked out of his depth on that side of the scrum...another thing for the coaches to address.Who will play open-side on Friday ,for the Welsh?
ChrisT
Guest
Completely agree. This was a correct and brave decision and should be celebrated. Sure it changed the contest & I regret that as much as most but some people's disappointment disengaged their brains. If they must blame then point to the player, the rule makers, inconsistency elsewhere or the coaches - this tackle ruling has been hammered into them over the last 18 months. And what I really don't get in all that is how Sam has become such a victim. He knew he'd lifted and by design or physics, he knew he should make every effort to get him down safely. 'Dropping' him is as bad as driving him to the ground, yet some people still stupidly point to this as him 'pulling out' of the tackle! On a side note, if anyone is looking for a 'reason' for Wales failing to progress then look to injury. Priestland would have marshaled them to a semi they lost through their own wasted opportunities & losing Jones hurt almost as much. The Welsh have no real bench & for all Gatland's bluster, if the Wallabies turn up and stop playing their dull kicking game, they should take this depleted Welsh team.
Moaman
Guest
I fervently hope Gatland never gets anywhere near a senior coaching post in NZ. Were his utterances as incomprehensible as Mitchell's used to be....Gatland would be better off. His latest admission that he and his assistants considered contriving uncontested scrums during the semi-in a lame attempt to highlight how hard-done-by Wales and Warburton were in receiving a red card....is nothing short of bizarre.A rule is a rule and referees are not supposed to process a player's record ffs or how important an occasion it is,nor how many people will be disappointed by his decision.Risible! So if it were a pool game in Timbuctoo and Bakkies Botha pulls off a tip-tackle...he gets a crimson? I don't know how well Refs are remunerated but we fans need to think twice before aiming any criticism at a Ref.....the good ones are few and far between and we need to hang on to them. Headlines recently on the Roar like " Lawrence blunders..." and " Oh no,Bryce...." foster an enviroment where it is sport to poke fun,vitriol and even personal slander at Refs.I think this has gone too far.One aspect of Football I have always loathed is how players intimidate the Referees.I never want Rugby to go down that path.