Lydiate: This squad’s stronger than 2011

DAN Lydiate has warned Wales to beware a dangerous Australia outfit but believes they have enough in the tank to get them over the line.

Warren Gatland’s side face the Wallabies today with the winner almost certain to top the pool and secure a far more favourable route to the final.

And the 67 times capped Lydiate, right, who missed out on a World Cup spot, believes Wales have never been in a better place. “We had a good result against them in the autumn and that was the first time we beat them for a good while so the boys will take confidence from that,” said the Ospreys flanker.

“But Australia seem to be going from strength to strength at the minute. They beat the All Blacks last month so they seem to be hitting their straps at the right time.

“What’s crucial as well is that the way the fixture lists are spread out means the Wales boys will have enough rest between games. Whereas at the last World Cup we beat England and a few days later we were playing Fiji in Cardiff. That was quite a tough ask.

“The boys will be bouncing and have done all the hard yards. They will be fine tuning everything and they will fly into Australia.

“They’ll be pretty positive about how much hard work they put in during preseason and I think they’ll be really looking forward to it.” Lydiate was part of the Wales squad which reached the semi-finals of the 2011 World Cup when captain Sam Warburton was controversially sent off for a tip tackle against France. Lydiate believes this squad is even stronger than the one which travelled to New Zealand eight years ago.

“It’s a stronger squad when it comes to strength in depth,” said Lydiate. “They’ve got a good blend of experience and young boys coming through.

“There’s a massive opportunity there and everyone is crossing their fingers and toes that the boys can do it. I think every top side can beat each other on any given day.

“If you look at Warren Gatland’s record it speaks for itself. He gets the best out of his players and he’s also changed with the times by blooding new players over the past two years to get the depth needed to compete at a World Cup.”