“You don’t get breakdown threats as accomplished as them in the northern hemisphere, so it’s great to play the boys from down south”.
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It remains to be seen if Australia coach Michael Cheika retains Foley in the crucial role of fly half against Wales, but he expecting Warren Gatland to have his side pumped up for what promises to be another classic encounter between the two protagonists.
The brutish 110kg outside centre is one of only a few Welsh players to have tasted success against Australia recently, having played in their 21-18 victory in 2008 as well as enjoying victories as part of the 2013 British and Irish Lions squad. We could have lost that game in the last 10 minutes and England could have been going through and the questions asked of us.
The winners of Saturday’s clash will face a quarter-final against Scotland or Japan, with a semi-final possibility of meeting Ireland, France or Argentina, but the losers will tackle twice world champions South Africa in the last-eight.
Wales have been dogged by injuries, and Williams described the country as “in mourning” when star duo Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb were ruled out before the start of the World Cup.
Their exit was sealed by last weekend’s 33-13 defeat to Australia.
“We might not have the amount of caps that New Zealand have as a collective but at the same time that is coming and I for one think it is hugely exciting about what this group can do”.
It’s a no-go zone at Camp Wallaby, but Wales aren’t shying away from their miserable record against Australia in recent years.
“Fardy doesn’t get enough credit”.
“It is still all to play for in terms of the knockout phases”.
“Like I have said before, no team has ever won the world cup losing a game”, said Cheika.
“We are all fully fit”. So, we just want to do our best against Wales.
“We need to take a leaf out of the Australian book this week and make sure we play for the full 80 and don’t lose concentration”.
As far as he’s concerned, I think he should be looking at it as the first game of his next spell in charge and not as a dead rubber. We will have to be on our toes defensively to not give them too many opportunities.
“It will be tough to manage those guys with a Six Nations in the middle and then a three-Test tour to Australia at the end of the season”.
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While England’s result against Uruguay on Saturday is immaterial, Wales know they have at least two games left in the tournament.
