Gatland excited by 'toughest pool'

Gatland: a great draw

If we come out of it (the group), then we are in pretty good shape for the quarter-finals as we will have played some tough rugby, as long as we don't pick up too many injuries. I think this is the toughest pool.

Warren Gatland
Quotes of the week

Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Americas 1, Asia 1
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1, Play-off winner
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Europe 2, Americas 2
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Oceania 1, Africa 1

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Warren Gatland believes Wales have been drawn in "the toughest pool" of Rugby World Cup 2011.

Wales will face holders South Africa and Fiji - who knocked them out of the tournament in France just over a year ago.

Samoa are also likely to join the group. The Samoans have yet to qualify, but they are red-hot favourites for the Oceania 1 berth, with Wales' group being completed by Africa 1 - probably Namibia.

Gatland said: "It is a great draw and we are excited about it. "Look at the World Cup last year - the winners of the competition came from the toughest pool.

"If we come out of it (the group), then we are in pretty good shape for the quarter-finals as we will have played some tough rugby, as long as we don't pick up too many injuries. I think this is the toughest pool."

Wales have never met South Africa in a World Cup fixture - but they know all about Fiji and Samoa.

Fiji knocked them out of last year's tournament, winning 38-34 in Nantes and ending Gareth Jenkins' miserable spell as Wales coach.

Samoa, meanwhile, can boast two World Cup wins against Wales - both in Cardiff - in 1991 and 1999.

Gatland added: "Fiji and Samoa will have a huge amount of support (in New Zealand) and the crowd will be really behind them.

"Hopefully, we will get a bit of support for South Africa, but we need it for the other two as well.

"We have played the three toughest teams in the world this autumn, and there is a significant amount of improvement to come from our game.

Confidence

"We are trying to get some confidence against the southern hemisphere by winning a few games.

"The players learn from time in the middle, they learn about keeping their composure against these teams.

"Our first target was to try to be in the (world's) top five. We are there now - we were ranked 10th when I took over.

"The players can see some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of where we are going."

The overwhelming majority of Gatland's existing squad are likely to be around in 2011, and he hopes world-class flanker Martyn Williams will be among them.

Williams, who will be 36 when Wales head to New Zealand, remains an inspirational presence for his team-mates.

Gatland said: "Martyn will still be playing if we look after him. He is pretty important for us, and long-term we've been thinking about how we get him through to the World Cup."

Demanding

Springboks coach Peter de Villiers backed Wales to go from "strength to strength" under Gatland, with both de Villiers and skipper John Smit accepting South Africa found themselves in a demanding group.

"It is a tough draw and it will be a very physical pool, but I am happy with the draw," said de Villiers.

"We will be monitoring these nations' progress over the coming months, but we know what they are capable of when they are on song.

"Wales will only go from strength to strength, and we know the Pacific Islands produce outstanding players - you only have to look back to last year's World Cup to know what a threat they can pose."