Thomas looks for defining victory

Wales captain Gareth Thomas insists his men are ready to face down their biggest challenge since the 2005 Grand Slam and produce a “defining” victory over Australia.

Wales’ World Cup future is at stake. The victors tomorrow will be on course to top Pool B and earn a preferable quarter-final draw.

Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins has spent 18 months planning for this week. He has made tough decisions, sacrificed results and shouldered fierce criticism along the way to ensure his squad peak for the biggest occasion.

Jenkins had urged the public to “keep the faith”. After just five wins in 17 matches, Wales need to prove their loyalty has been well placed.

Thomas said: “This will be a defining game for us. We want to go to Marseille for the quarter-finals top of the group and if we are to do that we will have to perform.

“If we are to be a better or stronger squad than the Grand Slam team of 2005 we need to do what we did two years ago – and that is to win games and win tournaments.”

Nearly 10 months ago, Jenkins delivered his “Welsh Way” address, in which he emphasised an unflinching belief that Wales could win the World Cup.

Jenkins revealed one of his biggest challenges was to convince the squad to believe it too. Tomorrow will provide a major indication of his success.

“This is probably the biggest game in the tournament as far as we are concerned. Winning this game would be huge for us,” said Jenkins.

“We have been clear in the last 18 months about what we need to achieve to give us the best chance at this World Cup.

“We respect Australia but we don’t fear them, that’s for sure.”

And with good reason. Australia have spent most of the week complaining that Wales boast an “unfair” home advantage for such a pivotal match.

The Wallabies have struggled in Cardiff over the last two years.

In 2005 Australia fell to a 24-22 defeat to the new Grand Slam champions. Last November the Wallabies had to rely on a piece of magic from Chris Latham to snatch a 29-29 draw.

Jenkins believes Australia are better team now than last autumn – but he is convinced Wales are too.

Experienced trio Thomas, Stephen Jones and Colin Charvis, who came off the bench to dig Wales out of a hole against Canada last week, all start and bring with them 251 caps worth of experience.

And in a match which could well be decided by one score, he urged the capacity crowd to raise the roof tomorrow in the hope of earning Wales that vital edge.

“I have no doubt all the Welsh people who are in that stadium tomorrow will realise how important they are going to be to us,” said Jenkins.

“They always deliver on that front and it can be inspiring. It has been estimated when the roof is closed, Welsh supporters add 15% to the national team’s performance.

“That is a lot to add to a side’s performance. This is the most important match we have played during my tenure and the most important game a Welsh side has played for a long time.”

In both the 2005 and 2006 matches Australia struggled without Stephen Larkham at fly-half.

And they could be without their talismanic stand-off again.

Larkham suffered a knee injury in training this afternoon and faces a fitness test at 8am. If he is out, Berrick Barnes could be asked to make his full Test debut.

Even without Larkham, Australia pose Wales one of the great World Cup challenges.

Assistant coach Neil Jenkins, who played in Wales’ 1999 quarter-final defeat to the Wallabies, said: “People were going on about Australia struggling prior to the tournament but they never struggle in big tournaments and when major events come along.

“They are always there or thereabouts. We have already seen the form they have brought to this tournament.

“It will be a big challenge for us tomorrow. But we have the belief. I don’t see any reason why we can’t win.”