Welsh fate in the balance

Pool B: Today is judgment day for the Wales head coach, Gareth Jenkins. If Wales win they qualify for the quarter-finals.

Pool B:Today is judgment day for the Wales head coach, Gareth Jenkins. If Wales win they qualify for the quarter-finals.

If they lose, it is the end of the road for their World Cup ambitions and, possibly, for Jenkins.

Defeat would leave Jenkins with a record of just six wins from 20 Tests and facing huge questions over his future.

"There are people who make the call on that, not myself," said Jenkins, who is under contract till the end of the 2008 Six Nations.

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"On a personal level, this is where you want to be. These are exciting times."

Jenkins was handed late fitness concerns over hooker Matthew Rees, who has a stomach upset, and captain Gareth Thomas, who is suffering from a head cold.

The coach was confident both men would be fit and if Thomas recovers he will become the first Welshman to win 100 Test caps.

Meanwhile, Australia's injury problems are starting to improve, with captain Stirling Mortlock rejoining the team at training and Stephen Larkham walking again after his second knee operation.

Both players have been ruled out of Australia's final Pool B match against Canada today but are hoping to play in the knockout stages, for which the Wallabies have already qualified.

WALES: G Thomas (capt); M Jones, T Shanklin, J Hook, S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Rees, C Horsman; A-W Jones, I Evans; C Charvis, M Williams, A Popham: Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, D Jones, I Gough, M Owen, M Phillips, J Robinson, D James.

FIJI: K Ratuvou; V Delasau, S Rabeni, S Bai, I Neivua; N Little, M Rauluni (capt); G Dewes, S Koto, J Railomo; K Leawere, I Rawaqa; S Naevo, A Qera, S Koyamaibole. Replacements: V Sauturaga, H Qiodravu, W Lewaravu, A Ratuva, J Daunivucu, N Ligairi, S Bobo.

Referee: S Dickinson (Australia).

AUSTRALIA: C Latham; C Shepherd, L Tuqiri, A Ashley-Cooper, D Mitchell; J Huxley, S Cordingley; G Holmes, A Freier, A Baxter; N Sharpe, M Chisholm; H McMeniman, G Smith (capt), D Lyons. Replacements: S Hardman, G Shepherdson, R Elsom, P Waugh, S Hoiles, G Gregan, M Giteau.

CANADA: D van der Merwe; J Mensah-Coker, M Pyke, D Daypuck, J Pritchard; A Monro, M Williams (capt); R Snow, P Riordan, J Thiel; L Tait, M James; C Yukes, D Biddle, S-M Stephen: Replacements: A Carpenter, D Pletch, M Pletch, M Burak, M Webb, E Fairhurst, D Spicer.

Referee: C White (England).