Wales coach Gareth Jenkins admitted on Wednesday there can be no more excuses as his misfiring team arrived for the World Cup.

The Welsh squad have set up camp at their Brittany base in Pornichet, near St Nazaire, ahead of their first game in the tournament against Canada on Sunday.

But having managed just two wins from their last 12 Tests, under-fire coach Jenkins knows it is time for his toothless dragons to show their bite.

Jenkins said: "We have a very excited group of players who are in good shape and have a fantastic appetite to do well in this competition, but now it's about playing.

"The World Cup is all about producing performances and most of all results.

"We've been clear from the start that we had a process we were working to in order to peak at this World Cup. I felt we followed that path but now the time has arrived to produce something to be proud of."

Some 2,000 locals watched Jenkins put his Wales squad through their paces in France before naming his squad on Thursday for the opening Pool B game, a section which also includes Australia.

Gareth Thomas and Stephen Jones took a full part in training following knocks, and the Wales coach admits he is in the best position possible ahead of the opening tie, in Nantes.

Jones said: "We only have one player not taking part in training (Ian Evans) so we have 29 out of 30 players available for selection, which is probably the best position we've been in all summer.

"Everyone is very excited by the opportunity and the reception we have had from the people of this area has been fantastic. That has really helped us settle in."

It is little wonder Jenkins and his men are happy to be on the west coast of France following the mounting criticism they have faced back home.

In a rugby-mad country where the national team comes under intense scrutiny, 2007 has so far been a difficult year after a series defeat in Australia and just one victory in the Six Nations.

That was against England who exacted revenge with a record 62-5 hammering at Twickenham little more than four weeks ago.

Jenkins said: "The last few weeks in Wales have been uncomfortable but what we've all been waiting for is for the World Cup to start. We have had a clear vision and we always said to judge us here, in this tournament.

"Our first objective is to qualify from the group stages for the quarter-finals and then take a judgement on events after that."

Thomas is expected to be fit for the opening game despite being carried off against France ten days ago following a series of heavy blows while former skipper Jones is tipped for a place among the replacements against Canada.

Jones has not played since breaking his thumb against Italy during the Six Nations and missed all three World Cup warm-up fixtures with a groin strain.

Rising start James Hook is favourite to start at number ten.

AFP