Wales aware they cannot afford any slip-ups

Wales can afford no hiccups in their opening match against Canada on Sunday if they are to claim a quarter-final place behind Pool D favourites New Zealand.

Team manager Alan Phillips said: "The Canadians are always tough opponents. They play in your face, and they keep coming at you, so we will need to show good discipline.

"It is our first game, and it's vital that we record a victory in order to get the show on the road. I know we have been written off, but it doesn't bother us. We are motivated."

Wales beat Canada 32-21 in a tough encounter in Cardiff last November and the need to match their physical presence will influence coach Steve Hansen's line-up, which he will announce on Friday when the team arrive in Melbourne.

"We've picked a pack of forwards to get stuck in," added Phillips. "All the training is done, and we are now actually slacking off." Up front, Wales are set to field hooker Robin McBryde, lock Brett Cockbain and World Cup skipper Colin Charvis.

But there could be some unexpected combinations behind the scrum. Full-back Kevin Morgan looks poised to make his first Test appearance since injuring his knee last season and the centre pairing could be Iestyn Harris and Sonny Parker, with Ceri Sweeney playing at fly-half instead of Stephen Jones.