{"id":293255,"date":"2023-09-20T13:34:49","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T13:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=293255"},"modified":"2023-09-20T13:34:49","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T13:34:49","slug":"wales-wary-of-wounded-australia-says-assistant-coach-jonathan-thomas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/wales-wary-of-wounded-australia-says-assistant-coach-jonathan-thomas\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales wary of \u2018wounded\u2019 Australia, says assistant coach Jonathan Thomas"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wales assistant coach Jonathan Thomas has described Australia as \u201ca wounded animal\u201d ahead of Sunday\u2019s Rugby World Cup clash that could see the Wallabies make unwanted history.<\/p>\n

Eddie Jones\u2019 team are teetering on the edge of a World Cup pool stage exit for the first time.<\/p>\n

If Wales beat them in Lyon, then their quarter-final hopes will be over and head coach Eddie Jones left to face the music.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a cliche, and I apologise, but you just have to focus on yourselves,\u201d Thomas said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen you start thinking about permutations or selection of the opposition, you go down a rabbit hole, in my opinion.<\/p>\n

\u201cConfidence, for me, comes from the work you do during the week. That is where we get our focus from.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe respect Australia as a rugby nation. They are a wounded animal, they can be dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Australia hold a 5-2 lead across the countries\u2019 seven previous World Cup meetings, but Wales will start as favourites this time around.<\/p>\n

They have collected a maximum 10 points from their first two Pool C games \u2013 a record that only Ireland of any other team in the competition can match.<\/p>\n

Wales\u2019 pool stage win against Australia in Japan four years ago set them on a course to the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by South Africa in Yokohama.<\/p>\n

Wales centre George North added: \u201cI\u2019ve been to quite a few World Cups now, and to get early results is good.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if you had said to us we would have 10 points after the first two games, I think everyone would have bitten your hand off. It is a massive game that we have to go and win on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe quality we have got now is really showing. Each day everyone is trying to get better to fight for that jersey and that\u2019s what drives you on.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt (qualifying on Sunday) would certainly be a little weight off the shoulders, wouldn\u2019t it? What has stood us in good stead is just focusing on every game as it comes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will have had an eight-day turnaround, which helps, from the Portugal game. We\u2019ve had that rotation and allowed everyone to have a game.<\/p>\n

Yesterday was what we would call a recovery day, but it was far from recovery. It was very much on full gas<\/p>\n

\u201cThe families have been out and we\u2019ve seen them. Every week, we have a day off, and that ability to switch off is key. I think it has really showed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis week, boys are really chomping at the bit. Yesterday was what we would call a recovery day, but it was far from recovery. It was very much on full gas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if we can keep pushing that today and the rest of the week, it will put us in a great position come Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wales head coach Warren Gatland\u2019s team selection looks unlikely to deviate far, if it all, from the one that defeated Fiji in Bordeaux 10 days ago.<\/p>\n

He could, though, decide on naming two specialist openside flankers in the back row, with Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell starting alongside number eight Taulupe Faletau.<\/p>\n

Reffell was due to feature against Portugal, but a tight calf muscle saw him withdrawn from the starting line-up just before kick-off.<\/p>\n

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Thomas said: \u201cIt was a prudent move not to play him. He is being assessed every day. He is the only one we will weigh up \u2013 everyone else is fit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe good thing we\u2019ve got with our back-rowers is that they are versatile. All of them can play in different positions, pretty much, so those options are always there. We will see.\u201d<\/p>\n

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