Rugby: Gatland has nothing but praise for rival Deans

Wales coach Warren Gatland. Photo / Getty Images

CARDIFF - Wales coach and fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland has thrown his support behind embattled Wallabies mentor Robbie Deans ahead of the test between their sides at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

With Deans in charge, Gatland believes Australia's numbing loss to Scotland last Sunday will be long forgotten by the time the 2011 Rugby World Cup comes around.

"I've got a huge amount of respect for Robbie and what he's achieved in rugby and Super 14 and the successes that he's had," Gatland said after naming a formidable Wales lineup.

"I think out of the three Tri-Nations teams, they're the team that's played the most rugby. They've got a very young side that are developing ... and, in two years' time, I think you'll see a really strong Australian side."

Gatland suspects there will be a sting in the Wallabies' tail this weekend as they chase redemption in the tour-ending test. "Australia should never have lost that game last week," he said. "If that game was played 99 times out of 100 and Australia took their chances, they would have won.

"As a team, Australia have been quite unlucky. They could have easily been playing for the grand slam this week. They were unlucky against Ireland, conceding a try in the last minute, had a chance to win against Scotland with a conversion [after fulltime]."

Gatland concedes the Kiwi in him is providing added incentive to conjure another victory over Australia after Wales scored a 21-18 win in the corresponding fixture last year.

"All of us want to beat the Australians," he said. "Because in all sports, if you look at the population of Australia, they're the greatest overachievers in world sport with the success they've had, not just in rugby but any sport they've put their mind to."

In his only change to the starting side from last Sunday's 33-16 win over World Cup semifinalists Argentina, Gatland recalled experienced halfback Dwayne Peel and dropped Gareth Cooper altogether.

WALES

James Hook Leigh Halfpenny Jamie Roberts Jonathan Davies Shane Williams Stephen Jones Dwayne Peel Ryan Jones (c) Martyn Williams Andy Powell Luke Charteris Alun-Wyn Jones Paul James Matthew Rees Gethin Jenkins Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Dan Lydiate, Martin Roberts, Andrew Bishop, Tom James.

- AAP