Warren Gatland’s side will go into the vital third round clash with Australia with a maximum 10 points from their opening two matches. If they win again even without a bonus-point they will reach 14 points – a total that only Fiji can either match of overtake.
After the game in Lyon, both Wales and the Wallabies will have only one game to go. Wales currently lead the Aussies by four points and a win over them would leave Eddie Jones’ side able only to reach a maximum of 13 points
“It’s in our hands now, and that’s a nice position to be in. It’s all dependent on us and how we perform on Sunday,” said Wales wing Josh Adams.
“We’re quite aware of the carrot at the end, if you like, and it has motivated us a lot this week if I am honest. It’s the best week we’ve had, in my opinion.
“The past couple of results have been very, very tight, with both teams right in it until the very, very end. And I’ve got no doubts Sunday will be no different.”
Adams ended the 2019 World Cup as the leading scorer with seven tries and picked up his first of this campaign in the first round win over Fiji. He can’t wait to be involved in another big Test match in Lyon.
“They’re brilliant, I love them. I’ve felt the energy in the group build as the week’s gone on,” said Adams.
“We’ve talked about different aspects of the game, what this game means for us as a squad going forwards as well. Sometimes, you can feel that bit of energy, bit of buzz about the group and we’ve been looking really sharp.
“We’ve shown aspects of how much we are willing to work hard for each other. We’ve had three months of it, and I think the work we’ve done has put us in good stead – we’re a brotherhood.
“We understand what we expect from each other first and foremost. I expect the best from everybody else, and they shouldn’t expect anything less from me.
“As a squad we make a promise to each other before we play that no matter what happens out there, we’ll constantly keep fighting for everything – every ball in the air, every ball on the floor.
“As a squad we will continuously scrap for everything. We just want to be a difficult team to break down and beat.
“We’ve shown passages of that, but we can get better, and we can push it further. That’s our aim, to impose ourselves defensively in a more aggressive way, while being disciplined around it.
“I’ve got no doubt every one of us will scrap to the 80th, 90th or 100th minute against Australia.”
The Wallabies have never lost two pool matches at the World Cup and head coach Eddie Jones knows that a loss to Wales on top of last weekend’s first defeat to Fiji in 69 years would make it very difficult for his side to reach the knock-out stage.
World Cup winners in 1991 and 1999, the Wallabies also lost out to England in the 2003 final. They have never before failed to reach the last eight
“Australia pose a very, very good aerial threat, and it will be very important that we nullify that. Their short-side attack is pretty good as well, so we need to be on the money defensively,” added Adams.
