While most people are talking about points difference being critical in Pool A, which contains four teams ranked in World Rugby’s Top 10, Edwards is advocating defence rather than attack as a positive way forward.
“I was looking at this pool and it’s a massive challenge for us. We are playing against England who have just come off the Six Nations and scored more tries than any team ever has in the tournament, Australia have just won the Rugby Championship and Fiji are in strong form. It’s a big taste for us in defence, particularly the first game after Uruguay is the England game,” said Edwards.
“They have scored the most points in the last two Six Nations so we are playing against a very potent attacking team who can hit you in all ways. They have some electric backs and play expansive rugby but they can also hit you through the forwards with a mauling game. We have our hands full and know we have a huge challenge ahead but we are preparing well for that.
“England have threats all over the place. If you go through the forwards, Ben Morgan is an outstanding ball-carrier. If you look at the backline they have Anthony Watson and Jonny May and Jonathan Joseph is probably in the top three No13s in the world at the moment and was the top try scorer in the last Six Nations. We are fully aware of the threat that is coming our way.”
But before Wales have to cope with the attacking threats in the English ranks they have to meet Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday. It will be the first time the two nations have met at full Test level.
“Their players are not household names so it’s really important we don’t underestimate them in anyway – we need to concentrate on our own performance. Their unpredictability is unusual because you are playing against players you are not normally playing against, although we have footage of them and the lads have been looking at,” added Edwards.
With the last three Six Nations championships having been decided on points difference, and the winning teams having conceded the least number of points, the importance of discipline and defence is there for all to see.
“You have to counteract certain aspects of teams attacking strengths. England backs have fantastic footwork, so I won’t hide the fact we have been practising a lot against guys with really good feet and that sort of player,” said Edwards.
“We have spoken about rugby league and their attacking lines and everyone does that now in the game of rugby union. I was criticised a bit before we played England last time because I brought it up before the game that you can’t have any contact in front of the ball.
“I was proved right because there was a try disallowed the next day. I’d say England and Bath, those kind of teams, do that fantastically well. I came from rugby league and those plays were integral in my upbringing, and I know how hard they are to defend against when done correctly.
“There’s no doubt England do it fantastically well and that’s one of the reasons why they broke the record for the number of tries scored in the last Six Nations.”
The good news for Edwards and Wales is that the defensive displays in the last two games in the build-up to the World Cup were both very good. More of the same throughout the four games in Pool A is what the Welsh defensive coach is hoping for.
“Dan Lydiate made 26 tackles against Ireland in Dublin, which is an excellent amount of tackles, and that last tackle he was involved in was absolutely incredible. I don’t think he missed one and he’s a part of a number of back-rows who are performing particularly well at the moment,” said Edwards.
“The last two games we’ve played, I’ve given best defensive player, as I do when we have a win, to Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton. I thought Sam was outstanding against Italy.
“Hopefully, all our back-rowers are going into the challenges ahead in good form because we need them to be. If your back-row is in good form, you’ve got a pretty good chance of having a good defence.”
