Wales' defensive hands will be full, admits Edwards

Wales will have their defensive work cut out in a tough Pool A that includes fellow top 10-ranked teams England, Australia and Fiji, according to assistant coach Shaun Edwards.

Edwards has successfully transferred his time spent starring for Wigan, England and Great Britain rugby league into carving himself a role as one of global rugby union's most respected defensive coaches.

Working alongside head coach Warren Gatland, attack coach Rob Howley and forwards coach Robin McBryde, Edwards has been part of a Wales set-up that has overseen two Six Nations Grand Slams and one title and a last-four appearance in the 2011 World Cup since he joined in 2008.

"It's a massive challenge for us," Edwards conceded of the defensive effort he envisages for Wales in the so-called "Group of Death".

"We are playing against England, who scored more tries in the Six Nations last season that anyone has ever scored, and then we come up against Australia and Fiji.

"Australia have just won the Rugby Championship and Fiji are in good form."
Wales kick off their campaign against Pool A minnows Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, but Edwards already has his eyes set on the September 26 clash at Twickenham against hosts England.

"It's a big test for us in defence, in particular, the first big game against England," he said.

"England have scored the most points in the last two Six Nations so we are playing against a very potent attacking force.

"They are a team who can hit you in all ways. They have some electric backs and like to play expansive rugby, but they can also hit you through the forwards with a mauling game.

"So, we have got our hands full, but we are preparing well for that challenge."

Many pundits have predicted that, with only two teams automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals, Pool A could well be decided on points difference given the strength in depth of the teams on show.

"The last two Six Nations have been decided on points difference," Edwards reminisced.

"Ireland won both of them because they conceded the least points. And we won it before that because we conceded the least points. So, obviously defence is a big part of it and if it does go to points difference, the fewer points you concede, the better.
"But also, there is no doubt that with such potent attacking sides in our group, there are going to be a lot of tries scored as well."

Turning to Sam Burgess, a rugby league convert who has been named on the bench for England for Friday's tournament opener against Fiji, Edwards acknowledged that he was impressed by what he had seen.

"I think Sam has been massively improving," he said.

"Like any player, it is massive to change sport, but for Sam he has changed from a forward to a back as well. That has made it even harder for him.

"I haven't seen a full game of him playing at centre for a while, but he came on there for England and made a relatively good impact. I think Sam has acquitted himself very, very well."
Source: AFP