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Rugby Union

Jenkins shrugs off Twickenham rout

06/08/2007

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has dismissed Saturday's one-sided 62-5 defeat to England as irrelevant for the forthcoming World Cup.

The two sides could potentially meet again in the quarter-finals of the tournament in France, but Jenkins is confident that he will be ready to counteract England's forward-based game by then.

"We didn't expect England to play that way either, they really reverted to a type of game that we weren't expecting," he said.

The match was Wales' last before Jenkins picks the 30 players who will carry the Dragons' hopes into the competition and most of those who played in the hot and sunny conditions are on the fringes of selection.

"We can pick a far stronger team than that and that will be our intention going into the Argentina and French games," Jenkins said as he looked forward to his team's final warm-up encounters.

"Until we get enough possession and share the game, you are not going to see the best of Wales. But if we can get 50 per cent of any game we are still going to be a threat when it comes to the World Cup."

Jenkins' view was endorsed by captain Gareth Thomas who played in the side's narrow 28-17 last-eight defeat four years ago.

"It means nothing. If both teams qualify for the quarter-finals it will be a totally different game. I wouldn't put my jersey on if I didn't believe in my heart we could do it," he said.

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