How did we end up with such an apparently lop-sided World Cup draw? Justin Marshall takes a close look at Pool A.

Wales fullback Leigh Halfpenny has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup because of a knee injury.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has said their group rivals have plenty of questions that must be answered.

Cardiff is awash with youthful bravado every weekend as crowds invade the city hotspots.

Wales, consider yourselves warned. The All Blacks are in the mood to run the ball against you tomorrow and in Beauden Barrett they feel they have the ideal man at No 10 to set their backline alight.

Put yourself in Warren Gatland's shoes. Or maybe not after the accident which shortened his stride when he fell cleaning the windows at his Waihi retreat.

Both are very dangerous, particularly with ball in hand.Wales have gone back to their regular centre combination, with Jonathan Davies back from injury partnering Jamie Roberts against the All Blacks.

When Wales probe for weakness in the All Black team before the test, they will fancy the midfield is where they might get some mileage on Sunday.

For the first time this season, the All Blacks have four fully fit, match-conditioned first-fives to choose from to play Wales.

Gareth Anscombe, the Chiefs' Super Rugby utility, is targeting his international rugby dreams with Wales, a chance he gets through the combined forces of his rugby talents and his mother's birthplace.

Three years ago, Gareth Anscombe was on track to be an All Black. Now he is likely to find himself playing against the All Blacks in November as the 23-year-old first-five commits to Wales.

Every one of today's final round of JWC pool games has something riding on it, but none more so, as far as the home side is concerned, than the Wales-France Pool B showdown in Albany.

It is a small world, and an even smaller rugby world.

Wales coach Warren Gatland was an unusually happy man yesterday after a try in each half earned a third successive win over France and put them back in the hunt to retain their Six Nations crown.

This time of year always lends itself to reflection and few in the sporting world will feel more vindicated than New Zealander Warren Gatland.

Frustrated Wales coach Warren Gatland aimed post-match shots at referee Wayne Barnes as his Six Nations champions fell to a tormenting ninth straight loss to Australia.

From the 1967 test in Cardiff through to the last match.