Wales won't fear whatever comes their way

WALES would be smiling whatever the result in Auckland today.

France’s win in the Anglo-Franco conquest at Eden Park will do nothing to derail Wales’ preparations for their first World Cup semi-final since 1987 – and nor should it.

Sam Warburton and his men showed they are not only credible tournament finalists in Wellington this morning, but have the appetite and rugby prowess to win the whole thing.

Now, when have we ever said that about a side under Warren Gatland’s rein?

Money was on Ireland – but only because they triumphed Tri-Nations champions Australia.

You wouldn’t have been blamed for placing your hard-earned cash on them but Wales were in no way underdogs.

They have stamped their authority on this year’s tournament, not once, but from its outset, and are well placed to face a team, yet to-be-decided, for the final back in Auckland on October 23.

Their 22-10 victory over the Irish was hard-fought. Sixteen tackles in the first 35 minutes from Luke Charteris alone set the bar, consolidating Wales’ destruction in defence, and crediting them in attack.

Tries came from Wales’ record try-scorer Shane Williams to open proceedings early on, and then from recovering Mike Phillips before Jonathan Davies to cap the win off.

Meanwhile, Ireland threw away possession too easily while Wales disrupted whatever chances their opponents could conjure. Three times Ireland met with Wales’ try line in the first forty but not to any prevail.

Ireland's forwards won the battle against the Aussies a month ago but Wales were warriors from the front of its pack to its back and couldn't be matched and sent Ireland packing back to Dublin, who know more was expected from them.

Elsewhere, England’s defeat at the hands of the fruitless French was confirmed the moment head coach Martin Johnson put pen to paper.

Analysis following England’s last-gasp points-scrap over Scotland last week should have made it black and white for him.

A team who can’t win set piece ball cannot play the wide rugby they practice on the training paddock and nor can it feed the half backs to direct it. England have the wing-power but not once were they released.

For starters, yes, Steve Thompson has years of experience ahead of his former Northampton Saints’ protégée, but there is no question Dylan Hartley is England's on-form hooker at present.

And Matt Stevens, who was given a chance to redeem himself for his dismal display seven-days earlier, failed, while England’s other muscle-men James Haskell and Courtney Lawes were left to stew on the sidelines.

The halfback combination should have been a no-brainer also.

Where there is faith in England’s golden boy Jonny Wilkinson, on the back of England's tribulations off the field and concerns of Mike Tindall’s fitness on it, Toby Flood has already proved his worth at standoff, but, unnaturally, had to settle for 12, a position he has never filled.

England hadn’t set the tournament alight but basic selection errors have cost them dearly.

France, however, have had room to grow from the moment they kicked their tournament off against Japan.

England, you felt, had reached their potential, and couldn’t replicate it.

Marc Lievroment, the French head coach under pressure from home-press to deliver following their defeat to tournament minnows Tonga last Saturday, seems to have gone some way in relieving it for the time being at least.

France, for all their downfalls and squabbles behind the scenes, have that extra gear and although it may not have come to surface yet in this tournament, World Cup rugby is not about form but also attrition, and if you’re in it, then you’re definitely still in it.

2011 started by giving England confidence but has offered road blocks England have been unable to hurdle at its height. There has been a lot of promise for England but that has been taken away.

Johnson is confident England’s best days are ahead of them, however, following their defeat to France.

The team’s loss to South Africa in Paris in 1999 only made the team stronger under Clive Woodward, but the question should be: is Martin Johnson, the player who led England to World domination in 2003, the right man for the job today?

England looked desperate and confused; a team which seemed to find itself in the RBS 6 Nations back in March and April but lost its identity somewhere along the way to New Zealand.

Wales, on the other hand, are doing all the right things - and all just in time.

The world’s super powers Australia, South Africa, and tournament hosts, the All Blacks, have it all to play for, but on Wales’ performance today, world status doesn’t come into it.

The favourites remain in rugby’s arsenal below the equator – an antipodeans-axis of first-class football. Whichever team you pick, they have all been at the top of world rugby somewhere along the long road of rugby heroics.

For Wales, this may be unchartered territory. But as a nation waits in wonder, they have certainly set the wheels in motion.