Wales determined to end Wallaby hoodoo in World Cup clash

Wales are determined to snap their losing streak against Australia in their World Cup clash on Saturday, assistant coach Shaun Edwards said.

Both countries are already through to the quarter finals. But on top of deciding who is the best in Pool A, Australia go into Saturday's clash having beaten Wales in their past 10 games.

"Let's make no bones about it, Australia have had the upper hand on us for the last few years, and we are pretty determined to bring our competitive edge out," Edwards said at Twickenham on Friday.

"This is a huge game for us. We are playing against the current champions of the southern hemisphere, a team that has been in fantastic form recently."

Both sides have already beaten England in the "Pool of Death". For Wales, beating the Wallabies would be a psychological boost while top place would avoid South Africa in the last eight. A quarter-final against Scotland or Japan awaits the winner.

"Any team that can beat the All Blacks, which they (Australia) did in the summer, and to win the Rugby Championship you are talking about an incredibly formidable force," added Edwards.

"When we get the ball we want to attack as much as we can, but we know what a potent offensive unit the Australians are.

"I think they scored the most tries in the Rugby Championship, and they just beat England (33-13), who are a very strong team, by 20 points, so we know what we are coming up against."

- 'Different day' -
As for Wales' losing streak against Australia, Edwards said: "I've coached teams who have won 10 games on the trot, and when it has come to the 11th game I've said 'forget about the last 10 lads, because this is a totally different day', and I will be saying exactly the same.

"We feel that we have had equal preparation time.

"It's pretty well known that the northern hemisphere teams sometimes only have two weeks together before playing against the southern hemisphere lads, but that's not the case in Rugby World Cup years," said Edwards of Wales, who were beaten in the third-place play-off by Australia at the 2011 World Cup.

"It would be a very good achievement (to finish top of the pool), but we are a little more ambitious than that," said Edwards, a member of Wales' backroom staff when they lost 9-8 to France in a heart-breaking World Cup semi-final in Auckland four years ago -- a match where Wales skipper Sam Warburton was sent off.

Saturday's match sees Great Britain rugby league great Edwards in opposition to Australia attack coach Stephen Larkham, a World Cup-winning fly-half with the 1999 Wallabies.

"Stephen Larkham was one of the greatest players I ever saw playing rugby, and he is becoming one of the best coaches as well," Edwards said.

Edwards, whose Wales contract expires after the World Cup, played down suggestions he might join England's set-up amid talk of a Red Rose coaching revamp after their embarrassing World Cup exit.

Edwards joined Wales when Warren Gatland took over as head coach in 2007 and has since helped them win three Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams, and reach a World Cup semi-final.

But Edwards, asked about his future, said: "Do you know what? I watched Australia play the other day on a couple of tapes, and I've got my hands full thinking about that at the moment."

Source: AFP