Rugby World Cup: Gatland still breathing fire over Wales sending off

Wales coach Warren Gatland. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Warren Gatland has admitted it will be a test of character for his side to get themselves up for the Rugby World Cup third-place playoff, as the Welsh camp still firmly believe they should be playing on Sunday night, not Friday.

The former Waikato captain yesterday spoke of the "hollow feeling" that had enveloped the team after their controversial 9-8 semifinal defeat at the hands of the French last Saturday night. The match was marred by the sending off of captain Sam Warburton before 20 minutes were up on the clock, a decision that is still hotly disputed in the principality.

"To give a yellow card would have been the appropriate decision. That's why these guys are appointed as the top referees in the world because they make the right decisions," Gatland said. "I honestly believe that Alain Rolland made the wrong decision."

Gatland admitted the coaches had discussed faking an injury in the front row after Adam Jones had been forced from the field by injury, thus ensuring uncontested scrums. They decided not to because it was not the right thing to do. It doesn't make them feel any better about the result, though.

"We feel very hollow and very empty about what happened against France and pretty unfulfilled, really. We felt like the better team is not in the final of the World Cup."

Which is why Gatland, who for the umpteenth time this tournament reaffirmed his commitment to Wales post-World Cup, has resisted the opportunity to run out his squad players, who have seen little action, against Australia.

He has made three changes to the side that lost to France, two of them enforced by the injury to Jones and the suspension of Warburton. Ryan Jones comes in at No 8, while Toby Faletau switches to openside. Paul James replaces Adam Jones.

The other change sees Bradley Davies replacing Alun Wyn Jones in the starting XV.

"The one change which wasn't forced is based on the fact Alun Wyn ran himself into the ground when we faced France," Gatland said.

Wales would have loved to have had the services of first five-eighths Rhys Priestland, but he has not recovered from the shoulder injury he suffered against Ireland.

That gives James Hook a shot at redemption after a poor display against France. He will get the start, while veteran Stephen Jones, who also struggled when he came on at Eden Park, will stay on the bench.

"The best thing is to get back on the horse, so James gets an opportunity to show us all than he's better than the performance he displayed," Gatland said.

The match is expected to be the penultimate test for wing Shane Williams and certainly his last match at a World Cup.

Wales play Australia in a one-off test at Millennium Stadium in December and Williams will likely bow out there.

"I'm getting to the age where I'm looking around and I'm getting depressed just looking at these guys and looking at their dates of birth," Williams said.

"I'd love to be able to play at home and have the chance to have my family and friends there. But I really don't know, I'm just concerned about this game on Friday."