Excluding the injuries, Wales would have reason for confidence going into Saturday’s game.
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“We have to be in the right place to give the performance of our lives this weekend”, backs coach Andy Farrell told reporters at England’s training camp on Tuesday ahead of the Pool A clash.
“We will have a hell of a lot of England fans behind us and that counts for a lot”.
Australia are expecting a big challenge in the scrum from Fiji, but the Pacific Islanders hope to do better playing against the Wallabies’ high-tempo game than they did facing England’s more structured approach.
“If he is fit for this weekend we will know by tomorrow internally”.
The Wallabies open their tournament against Fiji in Cardiff on Wednesday (Thursday morning AEST), with the outside backs no doubt keeping an eye on the barnstorming 130kg Nadolo who skittled England’s defenders on several runs and scored his team’s only try.
“Overall I think it was an ideal first hit up for England“, he added.
Allen joined Leigh Halfpenny, Rhys Webb and Jonathan Davies in being sidelined from the tounament, while Halfpenny’s replacement Eli Walker was released earlier this month due to hamstring trouble just a week after being called up.
Wales’ opening World Cup victory over Uruguay on Sunday came at a hefty price with hat-trick hero Cory Allen likely ruled out of the tournament and five other players left carrying injuries. I’ve been around this group a long time now.
England beat Fiji 35-11 in the World Cup opener on Friday, however, the hosts had their lead reduced to six with as little as 15 minutes remaining, leading England’s interchange fly-half to suggest Australia and Wales may not have it so easy.
Gatland says Wales are down to three fit props with Lee and James now injured, and four are needed in a matchday squad of 23 ” two in the team and two on the bench.
“We know they are the favourites, but come kick off time they will have 15, the score will be 0-0 and we aim to bring our competitive spirit and our competitive edge to the game, which we will need to do to be in the contest”.
And Easter, who has won 52 caps for his country and might yet play a role at this year’s World Cup if injury strikes, insists Stuart Lancaster and his side will take the positives and now focus on Wales.
“They want to get as many people as they can in the front line and put pressure on you”.
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“Whoever gets through will be in good shape because they will have had competitive rugby from the start”.
