Wales team to face Australia named as Alun Wyn Jones breaks caps record in massive Rugby World Cup clash
WALES have been spilling blood in training with a series of brutal sessions — but record-cap skipper Alun Wyn Jones isn't the one starting fights any more.
Warren Gatland’s side are preparing for Sunday’s crunch World Cup clash with Australia with some bloodthirsty sessions.
The Dragons have lost 13 of their last 14 matches with the Wallabies dating back to 2008, but won last time out and are planning to lift off in Japan with a repeat success.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones has his team bang up for the fight and Thursday afternoon’s training in Tokyo saw Gatland’s players tear into each other.
Jones said: "There have been a few guys frustrated with selection which is a good thing.
"That breeds competitiveness within the squad.
"There was a bit of red stuff flowing yesterday which was all well-meant because it was for the betterment of the team."
Boss Gatland has named an unchanged starting XV to take on the Wallabies.
The only switch from the side which thrashed Georgia 43-14 is Owen Watkin replacing Leigh Halfpenny on the bench.
Gatland said: "We have trained well this week and guys have definitely gone up a notch in intensity."
In his last World Cup with Wales Gatland is desperate to go out with a bang.
The New Zealander is a master at getting his team ready for the big games and they don’t get much bigger than Australia in Tokyo on Sunday.
Whoever wins will almost certainly top Pool D and avoid England in the quarter-finals, but the players are going into the game battered and bruised... from training.
Wales hooker Ken Owens said: "My black eye is from the game on Monday. Training has been good. There’s been a good edge there which shows we’ve got an important game on Sunday.
"All the boys have trained well and you need that little bit of edge getting ready for the Test match.
"It focuses the mind."
Owens and Hadleigh Parkes have brushed off knocks to start against Australia.
But centre Parkes is nursing a small fracture to one of the bones in his hand with Watkin promoted to the bench to act as midfield cover.
Gatland said: "It is going to be a tough Australian team. We have had some close battles in recent times.
"We were good enough to get a win last time. It’s going to be a great game."
"[Alun] is a great competitor.
"Since he’s been captain we don’t have as many fights at training because he used to start most of them.
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"People who get to the top have a drive and a desire to want to be successful and he’s definitely done that. To become Wales’ record Test player with 130 caps is pretty special.
"He joins George Gregan as the fourth highest ever and hopefully there are many more to come.
"We’re very lucky to have him in the team and captaining the side."