Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said his team were ready to take on Australia after replacement backs Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones inspired them to a 42-17 World Cup victory over Canada.

Wales were floundering at 17-9 down five minutes into the second half before Jenkins brought on captain Thomas and fly-half Jones in the Pool B match.

"Tactically they were brilliant...they brought clarity, energy, confidence," Jenkins (pictured) said.

Jenkins said he had not feared defeat at any time in the match, despite his team's struggle in the first half when they scored three penalties through flyhalf James Hook to two tries from Canada.

The second Canadian try came from centre Craig Culpan, who ran the length of the field to touch down after intercepting a Hook pass just when Wales looked poised for a try five minutes before the interval.

"We had an opportunity to score and we could have taken off (if we had done so). That interception had an effect, we had our confidence shaken," Jenkins said. "They played their part, you have to give Canada credit.

Canada scored a third try before Wales had run in any of their five and Jenkins said: "I was pleased with our positive reaction to conceding the try early in the second half.

"We then put a good half hour of rugby together."

Asked to comment on Australia's 91-3 mauling of Japan in the opening group match on Saturday, Jenkins said: "To be fair, they were impressive."

But he added: "We showed we can play some quality rugby... they have to be impressed with our lineout and scrum.

"We showed we have come here to play rugby and attack defenders."

Canada captain Morgan Williams, who scored his team's third try, said: "In the first half we hung on to the ball. The forwards played as well as I have seen any Canada pack play.

"(But) Wales have a huge amount of depth. To compete with them you need to stay in it for 80 minutes, not just 50."

Reuters