Shaun Edwards has told his “on edge” Welsh players that a Rugby World Cup win over Australia will be something they remember for the rest of their lives.
Accomplished defence coach Edwards isn’t surprised there have been casualties at intense Wales training sessions this week in the lead-up to the high stakes pool game at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday.
The winners are likely to top group D and earn a preferable quarter-final berth.
Wales lost the equivalent game 15-6 at the 2015 tournament and paid a heavy price, eliminated in the quarters by South Africa.
In contrast, Australia glided through their more amenable side of the knockout draw before losing the final to the All Blacks.
Edwards said his men are determined they won’t suffer the same fate, suggesting last week’s 43-14 opening win over Georgia was merely a curtain-raiser to their main priority in the group phase.
“There has been a bit of an edge to us all week, let’s be honest,” he said.
“We’ve all been preparing for this since the draw’s been made, it’s a pivotal game and I said to the players ‘this is one of the games you’ll remember for the rest of your life’ and we want to be successful in it.”
Welsh media has highlighted numerous cuts and bruises at Welsh training sessions this week, with Edwards joking that captain Alun Wyn Jones has been at the heart of much of it in the lead-up to his record 130th Test for Wales.
The collisions delighted Edwards, who has constructed one of world rugby’s stingiest defences.
Edwards said the intensity was a sign his team will be on song defensively and wouldn’t be surprised if there is a repeat of the trench warfare has marked the last decade of Australia-Wales clashes.
Last November it was 9-6 to the Welsh, ending a run of 13 losses to the same opponents.
“I think there will be more points than 9-6, but history tells you there have been a lot of one-score (margin) games between us and Australia.
“That’s why our discipline is so important. It wouldn’t surprise me if it’s another one score game and hopefully it goes to Wales.”
