Wales have “golden” chance in France

Yet the National Coach insists it is up to his players to believe their own hype.

Jenkins knows his Rugby World Cup rivals will be green with envy after the draw kept Wales away from the big guns, and gave the side two pool games in Cardiff. Now it’s up to his men to make the most of their chance.

Jenkins said: “This is a golden opportunity for us. If I was on the outside I would say Gareth Jenkins is a lucky guy with the pool he is in and the venues he will play.

“Playing Australia in Cardiff is a fantastic opportunity. I just hope that we will have time to get our game together by then.

“We’ve got 12 weeks before the World Cup kicks off and now the real business starts. The players will have to be bigger, stronger and faster than ever but they must also realise their potential and start believing what they can achieve.

“Our training must reflect that. Our preparation has to be led as much by the players as the coaches. They have to set the agenda and make this an exciting place to be.”