Standing at 6ft 9in and tipping the scales at 129kg, Charteris casts an imposing figure in the heart of the engine room alongside Alun Wyn Jones. The second row partnership will come face to face with one of the best locking combinations in world rugby in Donncha O’Callaghan and Paul O’Connell. The conquerors of this little battle could just tip the scales in their side’s favour when it comes to reaching the cherished semi –final.
Over the years the Irish duo have not only talked the talk, but walked the walk. They’ve won honours with Munster and Ireland and both have played for the British and Irish Lions. So when they say they expect to call the shots in the coalface, you sit up and take note. But Charteris, who has had an outstanding World Cup campaign, has declared the Welsh pack will be no one’s whipping boys.
“I don’t think we have ever been bullied. To be bullied, what’s that mean? I don’t think that side of it is in rugby so much, not at this level any more.
“You just don’t get away with it. It’s more you can be physical and tough at the breakdown, getting turnovers and things. But that’s something we have been good at recently and I don’t see that changing.
“When you come up against a highly-rated pair like O’Connell and O’Callaghan it means you just have to raise your game.
“I don’t think there’s any intimidating factor. If you do feel it, you are probably in the wrong sort of sport. The days of being intimidated in rugby are long gone. I have never been intimidated before or during a game.
“Look, teams may have tried that, but we will take a lot of confidence from how we have played against big and physical packs like England and Argentina, before we came here, and South Africa and Samoa.
“As a pack, I think we came out on top in most of those games so we’ll take a lot of confidence. Ireland will be another big challenge up front, that’s for sure.”
“I always have the mindset that the better the opposition the more you have to raise your game. That’s the challenge and that’s what makes you a better player.”
