Warren Gatland has promised to keep Wales players’ feet nailed to the ground in spite of soaring expectations after their hammering of Australia. The Wales coach insists Wales will not start looking further down the track than necessary after they cruised into the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a record 40-6 win.

John Devereux is backing Warren Gatland to send Eddie Jones packing on Sunday night – and leave the Aussies as silent as they were back in 1987. That was at the first Rugby World Cup when Wales shocked Australia, 22-21, to clinch third place at the tournament in New Zealand. It will be less of a surprise if Wales boot the Wallabies out of the 2023 version, so bad have they been since Jones and his players landed in France.

Warren Gatland reckons he’s a happy man and to be fair, it doesn’t take much. Shoes that don’t pinch, a tie he’s able to loosen away from the cameras, maybe a beer or two. But what really makes him smile is winning and although there is still plenty of risk in Wales’ next Pool C match against Australia at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday, Gatland is sitting pretty on a pile of 10 points.

George North believes Wales are in a very good place going into round three of the World Cup in France. The Ospreys centre scored his 46th try for Wales, and his 48th in Test rugby, in the win over Fiji and is ready to try to add to the two tries he has scored for Wales against the Wallabies in Lyon on Sunday.

Gareth Thomas says it would be “amazing” if Wales beat Australia and book a Rugby World Cup quarter-final place one game inside the distance. Wales tackle the Wallabies in Lyon on Sunday knowing that victory would confirm one of the two qualifying spots from Pool C.

We’re still in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup but the big beasts are starting to stir. The Dragons of Wales, the Australian Wallabies, the leaping Springboks, the crowing French cockrell, and the . . err, prickly roses of England and spikey Scottish thistles are all on show.

Not many fans here in the South of France would give Wales 10 out of 10 for performance so far, but 10 is still the magic number for the squad. Their 10 points in Pool C is the perfect start in a tournament where only South Africa, and possibly Ireland, will feel on top of their game after the first two rounds.

Alex King has underlined the importance of Wales boss Warren Gatland’s presence and proven track record heading into Sunday’s Rugby World Cup clash against Australia. Wales are heading towards a fourth successive World Cup quarter-final appearance under Gatland, and will be odds-on to win Pool C if they topple the Wallabies.

Taulupe Faletau has highlighted Wales’ sense of belief and confidence as they close in on a fourth successive Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearance. Australia’s defeat against Fiji means that Wales are four points clear at the top of Pool C.

Not for the first time in his life, Eddie Jones is thinking about Wales. The Australia coach is facing one of the most important matches of his career – and one that could define his legacy in his homeland – as he plots a way back for the Wallabies against Wales in Pool C of the World Cup on Sunday.

Newport picked up their second bonus-point win of the season as they headed north to beat RGC 41-25 after sitting out round two in the Indigo Premiership. But the Black & Ambers had to do it the hard way after they found themselves for long periods in the second half.

Wales are suddenly facing a likely do-or-die World Cup showdown against Australia after Fiji’s stunning victory over the Wallabies blew Pool C wide open. The result in Saint-Etienne – a thrilling 22-15 victory for the Fijians – was the worst possible outcome for Wales, with Fiji picking up four points and the Aussies gaining a priceless bonus point.

Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys insists his team are heading in the right direction ahead of their World Cup showdown with Australia. Former Wales wing Shane Williams claimed the 28-8 Pool C victory over Portugal showed Wales had “no direction, no cohesion” after they only claimed a bonus point late on. “It was good to see Gareth Anscombe back at fly-half, but he chipped over the top a couple of times. Really? We needed to do more with the ball in hand, but we couldn’t get on the front foot,” was the assessment of the ITV pundit.

Wales’ starting line-up against Portugal on Saturday is littered with players who could provide foundation stones for teams way beyond the current World Cup. Exeter locks Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza are just 20 and 21, centre Mason Grady is 21, wing Louis Rees-Zammit 22 and captain Dewi Lake only 24, highlighting a rich seam of young talent available to head coach Warren Gatland.

Warren Gatland wants Wales to be “hard to beat” and they should certainly prove too hard for Portugal on Saturday. At least there was no mourning the morning after the night before against Fiji in the opening game.

Christ Tshiunza admits he is “living a dream” as he prepares to make his Rugby World Cup debut for Wales. Tshiunza’s journey has taken him from his birthplace – Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – to Exeter Chiefs, via Whitchurch High School in Cardiff after he and his family left a country rife with civil war 13 years ago.

Louis Rees-Zammit has underlined Wales’ “game by game mentality” as they target a second successive Rugby World Cup victory that would strengthen their quarter-final ambitions. Wales, fresh from a thrilling bonus-point victory over Fiji, tackle Pool C minnows Portugal on Saturday.

Former Wales international Dan Baker, who featured for Aberavon RFC last season, has returned to where it all started with a switch to Ystradgynlais RFC. Turn back the clock a long way and there were suggestions the No. 8 would become a Test regular with his outstanding ball-carrying.

Will Rowlands played down his defensive heroics in Wales’ thrilling Rugby World Cup victory over Fiji, claiming “I just see it as me doing my job”. Wales made a World Cup record of 253 tackles in the game, which they won 32-26, and lock Rowlands was at the heart it.

Scrum half Joe Williams came off the bench to help himself to a second half try hat-trick as Cardiff beat RGC 35-17 at the Arms Park in the Indigo Premiership. It was 14-3 to the Blue & Blacks at the break before Williams popped up to secure the bonus-point win. Prop Freddie Barnes opened the scoring with a close-range effort before Wales U20 outside half Harrison James hit a hat-trick of penalties.