Shaun Edwards, Wales defence coach

Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has welcomed the IRB’s move to be more stringent with policing of the breakdown and offside during the World Cup.

New law interpretations were introduced last year but International Rugby Board referees boss Paddy O’Brien believes that referees have relaxed in the way they rule those areas of the game.

O’Brien has therefore instructed referees to tighten up to ensure that the World Cup is more of a spectacle than the last edition in France which was dominated by defence and kicking the ball away and Edwards agrees with the move.

“I’m a big believer that the World Cup should be decided on the team that scores the most tries if possible,” the former British and Irish Lions defence coach said.

“Unfortunately if people are infringing and stopping you getting tries then you need to be penalised for that.”

“We are very conscious of discipline. It’s a massive priority on our list going into every game.”

“We know we’ve had problems with discipline in the past but we’ve worked very, very hard on it and it’s something that we stress massively within the Wales set-up.”

“If Paddy has emphasised that’s how it’s going to be refereed I applaud him,” Edwards told Sportal.

Edwards has taken interest in the style of rugby played by South African openside flanker Heinrich Brussow as he feels the player could influence the result between Wales and South Africa on Sunday.

“He’s a genuine seven and a world-class seven and they are very hard to come by,” said Edwards.

“He’s a real snaffler on the floor. In 2009 the way the game was refereed then you didn’t have to release when they hit the floor so that was to his advantage.

“But to his credit he is still turning ball over under the new interpretations. He has adapted his style and technique.”

“It’s going to be a big challenge for our loose forwards but that’s what you would expect playing against the world champions.”

Wales have only beaten South Africa once in their history and have lost their last 12 matches. However some of the losses have been too close for comfort for the Springboks.

Edwards said that Wales would have to match the physicality of the South Africans and be secure under the high ball if they are to upset the world champions.

“We’ve worked on the aerial game and the aerial challenge which will come our way,” the defence coach said.

“The Africans are very good from set-plays, very creative from first phase and we have had to work very hard on (defending) that kind of things as well.

“We know they are incredibly big, powerful men so we have to work on our one-to-one tackles and win that battle on the advantage line which is absolutely vital against this team. If you lose that battle, you’re pretty much going to lose the game.”