Warren Gatland has retained his faith in the Wales team that nearly beat the Springboks, making no changes for Sunday's clash with Samoa.

The Welsh suffered an agonising defeat in their opening game, going down 17-16 to the defending champions, South Africa.

Despite the loss, Gatland is suitably happy with the performances of the team to stick with the status quo.

In the only change to the matchday 22, a fit-again Gethin Jenkins takes over the role of prop cover on the bench from Ryan Bevington.

"We were extremely disappointed to lose last week against the Springboks, but we did maintain momentum with aspects of the performance providing a host of positive points to take into Sunday's match against Samoa," said Gatland.

"We have re-grouped and the players are looking forward to getting back out on the pitch to largely pick up where they left off last weekend.

"There are one or two areas we know we need to work on but we are looking for much of the same from all involved.

"We could not fault the effort, passion and commitment of the players last week and we have simply said we are looking for the same again against Samoa on Sunday."

Having lost to Samoa in the 1991 and 1999 World Cups, Wales will be very wary of a powerful outfit who impressed during their 49-12 victory over Nambia on Wednesday.

World Cup betting odds

Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Tavis Knoyle, 21 Scott Williams, 22 Leigh Halfpenny.

Date: Sunday, September 18
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 15:30 (03:30 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) 
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Jérôme Garces (France) 
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)

DECLAN Kidney has succeeded in achieving what many of us thought impossible — he’s rendered an Aussie speechless!

The Irish coach’s baffling decision to once again consign Andrew Trimble to a seat on the bench for this weekend’s crunch clash with the Wallabies has left one man from that part of the world — if you pardon the pun — hopping mad.

Former Ulster centre Ryan Constable says he was flabbergasted at the decision to omit Trimble and has been left scratching his head at just what else the blonde-haired winger could have done to book his place.

“It really doesn’t make sense to me,” said the former captain of the Australian Sevens side who also played for the Wallabies at Under 21-level and won full international honours against Ireland in 1994.

“I find it pretty remarkable that a side struggling to find its top form leaves out of its starting line-up an individual who has arguably been the form player in his team’s preparation games for the Rugby World Cup and, because of those performances, is playing with a huge amount of confidence.”

Pointing to Trimble’s stature — 6ft 2ins and 15st 6lbs — Constable observed: “Ireland don’t have a physical presence in midfield and he gives you that because of the roving commission he has as a winger.

“So again, for the physicality he brings, you would choose him.”

And with regard to the irrefutable case Trimble had presented to merit his inclusion Constable (pictured) noted: “Here’s the thing — in terms of getting himself selected he really couldn’t have done much more.

“The last good Irish performance was against England in March and he was in the team that day. So when you’re involved in the last good team performance and you’ve backed that up in your provincial jersey and then in your national jersey throughout August, you’ve pretty much made your case.

“If you didn’t know Andrew Trimble you would automatically think he must have done something wrong, that he wasn’t putting in the work in training or his attitude wasn’t right or something like that.

“That’s the sort of thing would spring to mind if you were viewing this selection without knowing Andrew Trimble. But we do know him and because we do we know that’s never going to be the case with this guy. That’s why it doesn’t make any sense to me.”

Former Ulster, Ireland and Lions ace Trevor Ringland — a man who knows a thing or two about playing on the wing — has also raised a quizzical eyebrow at the exclusion of one of Irish rugby’s most exciting impact players.

“I’m sure he will be feeling very disappointed himself so I feel very sorry for him,” said the man who won 34 caps and played in all four of Ireland’s group matches in the inaugural World Cup in 1987.

“He has been the player in form and because he gets across the gain line and makes ground I think his inclusion would have been good for the team.

“He and Tommy Bowe are two strong guys who can do that sometimes when they do it takes two or three men to stop them. That creates problems for opposing sides which in turn opens up space for the likes of Gordon D’Arcy or Brian O’Driscoll.

“They haven’t been playing well so anything that helps them would be very useful you would have thought.

“While Ireland’s backs have not been performing, Trimble is one guy who has so I do think he is unlucky to have been left out. All he can do is keep working. He’s on the bench on Saturday so there’s a good chance he’ll get an opportunity.”

Asked what the thinking behind Trimble being left out had been, Ringland replied: “I think it’s simply a case of the coach (Declan Kidney) liking Keith Earls in his team. He has used him in the centre, on the wing and at full-back so obviously he rates him very highly and wants to include him.

“Unfortunately for Andrew, he is missing out as a result, but hopefully he’ll get another chance at the weekend and he’ll take it.

“And when all’s said and done it’s not about individuals. The bottom line is that we all want to see Ireland play well and win, so we’re all supporting the team as a whole.

“Physically I think he offers more than Earls which is why I believe Ireland, as a team, would benefit from him being there.

“But it’s the coach who makes these decisions, so all anyone else can do is hope that it works out.

“Ideally they do well against Australia and Andrew Trimble will be part of that.”

Brian O'Driscoll: We must have belief'

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll hopes the hard work that he and his team-mates have put in the past few weeks will finally pay off against Australia on Saturday.

The Wallabies top Pool C after picking up five points against Italy while Ireland are one point behind, courtesy of last weekend's unconvincing 22-10 win over the USA in their opening game.

The clash at Eden Park is likely to determine the winner of the group and O'Driscoll is urging his team to make the most of their opportunity to shine against one of the best teams in the world.

"Games like these are huge and for me personally, knowing this will be my last World Cup, it's even bigger," said the 32-year-old centre.

"But as much as we know the enormity of the game, there's no point putting pressure on ourselves. We must still enjoy it.

"The occasion to shine is against the best teams in the world and Australia are ranked two in the world.

"Why not take the opportunity now, it might not present itself again? I'm excited about the prospect of taking Australia on.

"All of the hard work that I have put in over the last 10-12 weeks culminates in this. It's now or never, and hopefully it's now."

Australia will no doubt be confident ahead of the match as they are coming off a superb Tri-Nations campaign. They won three out of four games to claim the trophy for only the third time, and their first in a decade.

O'Driscoll believes Ireland will need to stop Australia from playing their own game if they are going to win Saturday's encounter.

"This is a very good Australia side," he added. "Any team that wins the Tri-Nations is a force to be reckoned with. That speaks for itself.

"As a team you back yourself on the achievements you have and the medals in your pocket.

"Fresh in Australia's minds will be their victory in the Tri-Nations and they have drawn confidence from that.

"But we must have belief in our own quality and on our day we feel we are capable of beating anyone.

"We have to make sure that our performance is up there with some of our best in recent years.

"We can't allow Australia to play and must impose ourselves on them."

Rugby : Rocky Elsom may wear Australia's colours at Eden Park on Saturday but Denis Leamy credits him for having a profound impact on Ireland's backrow. Just one season at Leinster was enough for Elsom to seal his place as one of the province's all-time greats.

A man-of-the-match performance in the 2009 Heineken Cup final was his swansong before returning to Australia to win back his place with the Wallabies.

Leamy insists the bulldozing 28-year-old flanker's influence continues to be felt in the guise of his former Leinster team-mates Seán O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip.

Two seasons after Elsom was crowned European player of the year the rampaging O'Brien earned the same accolade, while Heaslip has developed into a world class number eight.

"Rocky had quite a big impact on Irish rugby during the brief time he was playing in Ireland," said Leamy, the Munster backrow. "In his time at Leinster he was excellent, from what I could gather looking in. He brought on the guys around him.

"He's left a bit of a legacy there. Jamie and Seán were younger than him and he's definitely rubbed off on them. You can see the dynamism in their game, it's very similar to the way Rocky plays."

Elsom, who was relieved of the Wallaby captaincy just three weeks before the World Cup started, was feared across Europe for his destructive ball-carrying and bone-crunching impact in the tackle.

The blindside was in imposing form in the latter stages of the Tri-Nations and his threat must be contained if Ireland are to have any hope of upsetting the 1/5 favourites.

"I've played against some very good backrows over the last few years and he's certainly right up there at the top," added Leamy. "There's nothing he can't do. He has a fantastic engine, is a tall man who is good in the line-out and is extremely strong with the ball.

"There aren't many weaknesses to his game and he is always very influential in matches."

The Irish backrow face a busy evening at Eden Park, with Leamy highlighting the role they will play in containing Wallaby playmakers Quade Cooper and Will Genia. Cooper and Genia are Test rugby's most exciting and unpredictable halfback combination and must be watched closely.

"Australia are full of quality so there will be threats across the park," said Leamy. "But you have to really look at nine and 10. They're huge players with a lot of pace and a lot of guile. Any rugby fans or anyone who has half an interest in the game will know how good these guys are and how they can change a game in an instant.

"They're very exciting to watch, hopefully we can shut them down. Our back row must put as much pressure on them as possible. We'll have to work as unit because if anyone steps out of line, they'll exploit the space."

Victory over Australia would see Ireland place one foot in the quarter-finals, but on current form it is hard to see where the type of performance they require will come from. Apart from their stunning victory over England in March, the team have struggled for consistency and form, with their 22-10 win against the United States failing to dispel the negativity that now pursues the team.

Behind the scenes the squad has trained well, according to the management, but Leamy is cautious over reading too much into what happens on the practice field.

"It can be funny, sometimes you train very poorly but you'll go out and have a really good game and result," Leamy said. "Sometimes you train like a storm but it just doesn't happen on the day. It's not a fine science."

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is set to become the first player to rack up 100 appearances for the All Blacks after being named in the side for the Rugby World Cup pool clash with Japan in Hamilton on Friday night.

McCaw will lead a side that shows eight changes to that which beat Tonga 41-10 in the tournament opener in Auckland last Friday with fullback Mils Muliana, winger Cory Jane, centre Conrad Smith, scrum-half Andy Ellis, flanker Adam Thomson, lock Sam Whitelock, hooker Keven Mealamu and Colin Slade, a late addition to the side following the late withdrawal of Dan Carter because of a back problem, all returning.

On the eve of the game, All Blacks head coach Graham Henry has saluted McCaw's contribution to New Zealand rugby. "Richie is a very special man," he said. "He provides inspiration to New Zealanders because of his total commitment to enhancing the reputation of New Zealand through the success of the All Blacks team.

"He is incredibly brave, skilful and a hugely intelligent player who has the total respect of his team through the many deeds and successes he has achieved on the rugby field, and his ability to lead from the front.

"On behalf of the All Blacks coaches, management and fellow players, I would like to congratulate him on being the first player in All Blacks history to achieve 100 Tests - a truly remarkable milestone."

Henry added that the All Blacks were under no illusions about how much of a challenge Japan would be, after watching their effort against France in their opening match. "There is no doubt that they are a very good team and well coached by John Kirwan and Mick Byrne. They are physical at the breakdown, play the game at speed and will be a real threat if we let them play like that so we will have to be on top of our game."

Meanwhile, it will also be a special milestone this weekend for one of the team's other leaders, Smith, with the centre playing in his 50th Test.

Revised New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui; Colin Slade, Andy Ellis; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks; Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock; Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Adam Thomson.

Replacements: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Victor Vito, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Sonny Bill Williams.

© ESPN EMEA Ltd

Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll is at his last Rugby World Cup

AUCKLAND, 14 Sept. - For as much as Brian O'Driscoll says Ireland's match with Australia is just another game, you know the elder statesman of Irish rugby will savour the moment at Eden Park on Saturday.

Rugby World Cup 2011 is 32-year-old O'Driscoll's last one in a memorable career that began with his Test debut in 1999.

Saturday's Pool C match will also be O'Driscoll's 11th Test against Australia and marks the 14th time he has faced the Wallabies. That is the most appearances by a northern hemisphere player.

O'Driscoll knows the stakes are high and the reward is a better position for the team heading into the knockout rounds.

"We accept that it is a very, very big game,'' said O'Driscoll, who has played 114 internationals and scored  44 tries, both Irish records.

"They are the top-seeded team in our pool and they are everyone's expectation of finishing first so that in itself will make it a huge game.

"The fact we feel as though we have not done ourselves justice with our past performances adds to the level of expectation at our end.

"They are one of the best teams in the world so why not take the opportunity now? It may not present itself again to play in a situation like this, so give it your all.

Now or never

"I am excited that I have the prospect of taking them on on Saturday afternoon and all the work I have put in through the week and all the work I have put in over the last 10 to 12 weeks culminates in games like this.

"It is a little bit of now or never and hopefully we will win."

Ireland are underdogs against the Australians and O'Driscoll knows they will need to mirror the performance they turned in when they beat England in the Six Nations tournament in March.

"I think we did bring a great intensity in that game and we will need to try to recapture what it was that did it for us," he said.

"Anytime you play well, it is always trying to mirror the build-up and the attitude and everything from that game and it is hard to duplicate.

"Australia in a World Cup, not too many games come as big as that so hopefully motivation won't be lacking.

"I think the fact we have beaten Australia has helped us.

No secret

"I think that it is in the back of their heads, the realisation that we have done it before, so it is remembering that formula of what it was that did it for us.

"There is no real secret to those victories. You just have to bring a big intensity to the game and it is the will to win - who wants it more."

Given how the match could be the last time O'Driscoll plays Australia at the World Cup, he was pressed on whether there was extra pressure on him.

"Just because of the enormity of the game, it does not change anything. It does not make you react to or prepare any way different,'' he said.

"You still train as hard. It is just essentially another game. You can build it up to be bigger than it is or you want it to be.

"But it still comes down to enjoying the occasion. What is the point of heaping more pressure on yourself?"

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