Genuine praise or the beginning of the media mind games seven weeks out from the match?

Wallabies have 'Cardiff edge'

From correspondents in Cardiff
July 22, 2007

WALES coach Gareth Jenkins believes World Cup rival Australia will have the edge going into September's showdown, after firming up its preparation in the brutal intensity of the Tri-Nations series.

Wales clash with the Wallabies at the Millennium Stadium on September 15, the winner expected to top Pool B and set up a probable quarter-final showdown with defending world champion England.

Australia completed its Tri-Nations program with a 26-12 defeat to New Zealand last night, while Jenkins, meanwhile, is taking a 40-man squad to France for a week-long training camp before tackling England, Argentina and France in friendlies next month.

"I would like to be in the position of the southern hemisphere sides at the moment, playing tournament rugby and then having a three-week break," Jenkins told the South Wales Echo. "I wanted to play a competitive game in the training camp but that wasn't allowed because you can only play friendly matches in August. But we have to get on with it."

Despite the Auckland defeat, Jenkins believes Australia will be the happier of its Tri-Nations rivals.

"Australia have been the most comfortable team in the Tri-Nations," said Jenkins.

"There has been no real pressure or expectation on them and they have been able to relax in this tournament and they have done OK.

"New Zealand seem to have carried the burden of expectation badly and have stuttered a bit, while South Africa have basically given us nothing to look at really."

Agence France-Presse