FITNESS coach Paul Stridgeon says Wales are feeling sharp and ready to play with freedom in their World Cup clash with Australia, writes Chris Kirwan.

Saturday’s encounter at Twickenham no longer carries the nerves associated with it being a winner-take-all clash for the knockout stages.

However, the prize of topping Pool A and avoiding New Zealand and South Africa is up for grabs.

Wales have made it out of the group of death thanks to a backs-to-the-wall success against England and a win in a bruising encounter with Fiji just days later.

And Stridgeon expects the recharged batteries to enable Warren Gatland’s men to play with vigour against the Wallabies.

He said: "We've had a longer turnaround for this Australia game, which has benefited the lads a lot. We managed to give them a couple of days off after the Fiji game, so they come into this game a bit fresher.

"We are all fully fit. We have got a couple of bumps and bruises, but generally we are good to go.

"England losing last weekend (to Australia) took a bit of pressure off us, but our goal has always been to top the group.

“Warren has placed a lot of emphasis on this, but he has given the boys a bit of freedom and told the boys they can go out and play a bit this week.”

Stridgeon, a former freestyle wrestler who represented England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, joined the Wales set-up in June.

And the Wiganer has paid tribute to the efforts of the squad, who he put through their paces in tough training camps in Switzerland and Qatar.

"The culture here is so strong," he said. "The boys have a great work ethic, there are no egos, and we haven't had one person question one aspect of the training, no matter what we tell them to do.

"If we tell them to run around holding an elastic band or holding a bottle of water in their hand, they would just get on with it, and that's fantastic as a coach to come into an environment that is so hard-working.

"Me and 'Gats' go back to 2002. He gave me my first job at Wasps, so when he rang me (about working with Wales) it was a dream for me.

"There is a lot of trust with everyone. Everyone is great at their job, and are tremendously loyal, and we have a bit of fun as well."