Boot camp gives Welsh extra kick

If Wales reach their first Rugby World Cup final by beating France at Eden Park on Saturday, Warren Gatland's team will need to send a message of thanks to Poland.

Wales' run to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals has been based on being the fittest team on the park, something built up during a torrid two-week stint training at the Olympic Sports Centre in the east European country.

During their time there they would spend two three-minute sessions per day in a cryogenic chamber in temperatures of less than -60 degrees Celsius. Such radical therapies were part of a strategy to help the team to train harder and for longer.

The impact has been evident since Wales touched down in New Zealand in early September. Even though they lost their opening pool match to reigning champions South Africa, it was the team from the principality that finished the stronger. They then overran Samoa, Namibia and Fiji to reach the last eight.

Once there, Wales' superior conditioning meant they were able to stay on top of Ireland throughout their quarter-final match before they ran in late tries from Mike Phillips and Jonathan Davies to secure a 22-10 victory.

"I think it is a huge confidence boost to go out hard at the start and know you will still have something left in the tank at the end because that is where matches are won and lost," second row Luke Charteris said.

Welsh threat

"It hurt at the time, but it is paying off now. We played England at Twickenham in the first match after the camp and lost, but in the last 20 minutes we came back strong.

"When we came off the pitch we believed that if we had had five or 10 minutes more then we would have had them because they were on the ropes."

France are well aware of the threat that Wales possess. Despite their 19-12 win over England in the quarter-finals to get their campaign back on track, there is the belief only an improved performance will allow them to reach the final.

"If we play the same as we did against England, it won't be enough to beat the Welsh," number 8 Imanol Harinordoquy said. "We have to be better on defence.

"They are agile and very skilful players. They have good footwork and their forwards are very brave as well. We will have to be able to face the challenge.

"Sometimes we will have to put up with their attacks. We can't panic. If they play free, that is when they are the most dangerous."

Harinordoquy was back to his best against England. His rampaging performance put the English on the back foot from the start and he was rewarded with the man of the match award.

Better mind

He is one of several players with the chance to banish the demons of semi-final defeats in 2003 and 2007.

"In 2007 we relaxed too much and we thought we had won the game before we played it against a team that was not as experienced as we were.

"We have to be of better mind on Saturday. It is a dream. All my life I have wanted to play in a final of the World Cup.''

For Wales captain Sam Warburton - at 23 the youngest ever at a Rugby World Cup - a win would be the penultimate step in a remarkable four years.

Since 2007 he has gone from being captain of the Wales under-19 side to skipper of the senior team on the verge of a Rugby World Cup semi-final.

He led Wales for the first time in the match against the Barbarians in June and has become the figurehead of a young Welsh team that has been thoroughly enjoying its success.

"I am having such a good time right now," he said "I am loving going out on the pitch and putting on the red jersey and playing for Wales and I think that is how everyone is feeling right now."