The Rugby World Cup has not yet reached the midway point of the pool stage but squads are already being stretched by injuries. Simon Lewis

Warren Gatland has urged the pundits to keep writing Wales off as his players prepare for battle with fellow World Cup heavyweights England and Australia.

Warren Gatland has defended his decision to play Leigh Halfpenny in Wales’ final World Cup warm-up game against Italy.

The phoney war may well be starting in Cardiff on Saturday as Ireland plays the first of its four World Cup warm-up Tests but however much experimentation will be seen when Joe Schmidt today unveils his team to face Wales, the camp are insisting there will be no cheap caps.

Wales boss Warren Gatland believes that group rivals England are faced with a number of questions that need answering as they head into a World Cup on home soil.

Three of Welsh rugby’s biggest names — James Hook, Mike Phillips and Richard Hibbard — face uncertain international futures after seeing their World Cup hopes extinguished.

Keith Earls:

Wales want to put down an immediate marker in terms of their discipline when they face opening World Cup warm-up opponents Ireland tomorrow.

Warren Gatland rarely fails to take an opportunity to rile Ireland and even before a so-called warm-up game — and the mischievous side in him could still play a trick or two on Wales’ rivals.

Wales have announced the team to face Ireland in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up Test at the Millennium Stadium.

Munster gave Paul O'Connell a rousing curtain call as they booked their place in next week's Guinness Pro12 after surviving an almighty scare form Ospreys in a pulsating semi-final at Thomond Park.

Ospreys 31 Ulster 20

Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb crossed twice as Ospreys went top of the Guinness Pro 12 with a bonus point victory over Ulster at the Liberty Stadium.

Wales’ long wait to claim the major southern hemisphere scalp they crave continues – but only after an heroic display in a ferocious Test match of brutal intensity at the Millennium Stadium.

Connacht 26 Ospreys 43

Leinster’s Darragh Fanning believes there are plenty like him playing club rugby who are ready, willing and more than able to do a job for any of the four professional provincial sides.

Leinster coach Matt O’Connor was not impressed at his side’s failure to see out the remaining 60 seconds of their match with Ospreys last night in the Pro 12 after they had taken a three-point lead.

We’ve been spoilt over the years with the frequency of Munster and Leinster being paired with Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne in either the pool or knockout stages of the Heineken Cup. At its best, French club rugby is irresistible and in those two outstanding sides, we have been exposed to the very best it has to offer.

Olly Kohn tonight reflected on the “surreal” feeling of being called up by Wales for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

South Africa-born forward Andries Pretorius has been named in the Wales squad for the RBS 6 Nations Championship.

South Africa-born forward Andries Pretorius has been named in the Wales squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Ospreys 15 Leicester 15

Ospreys 17 Toulouse 6

Ospreys 19 Leinster 10

Ospreys 19 Leinster 10

Ospreys 26 Connacht 9

Ospreys 26 Connacht 9

Ospreys 38 Benetton Treviso 17

Ulster laboured to an unconvincing victory over the Ospreys at Ravenhill last night to move back to sixth place in the RaboDirect Pro 12 League.

Ulster 15 Ospreys 14

Edinburgh 14 Ospreys 15

LEINSTER will have revenge on their minds when they take on the Ospreys tomorrow in the Magners League in their first meeting since last season’s grand final.

Ireland and Ospreys wing Tommy Bowe has been named player of the season at the Magners League Awards for his efforts in helping the Welsh side win the 2009/10 title.