Warburton desperate to go '1 step further'

Wales captain Sam Warburton is eager to improve on the country's World Cup performance four years ago as he tries to lead them out of the so-called 'group of death' at next month's edition in England.

The Welsh reached the semi-finals in New Zealand in 2011 only to lose 9-8 to France -- a match where they lost scrum anchor Adam Jones early in the first half before Warburton was sent off before half-time.

Now they find themselves in a pool featuring World Cup hosts England and two-time champions Australia -- a team that have won their last 10 Tests against Wales.

At least one of the three major nations will miss out on a quarter-final spot, with Fiji -- who knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup -- also in the same group.

Only the top two teams from each of the four pools will qualify for the last eight.

"We definitely want to go one step further," back-row forward Warburton said Wednesday.

"All the players get asked questions about the last World Cup, and it's always the 'what if' question.

"No one really knows what would have happened. It's impossible to say.

"With Adam Jones going off pretty early -- he was arguably the number one tighthead in the world at that time, and the scrum is so important against France -- that was probably as much a killer blow as my red card, really," Warburton added.

"It is impossible to answer what would have happened, but the spine of the team this time is pretty similar, with everyone probably 30 or 40 caps better off.

"The leadership group we've got in the squad as a whole is so much better than it was four years ago, which makes my job a lot easier as well.

"In a World Cup, you have got to string six or seven games together to be able to make sure you can win it. It's about that consistency of performance week in, week out."

Meanwhile the 26-year-old paid tribute to Wales coach Warren Gatland for giving him an early introduction to Test rugby in 2009, which in turn led to the Cardiff Blues flanker captaining both Wales and the British and Irish Lions.

"I doubt I would be in the position I would be in if it wasn't for Warren," said Warburton of the New Zealander.

"Another coach probably wouldn't have put his faith in a 22-year-old kid who only had 14 or 15 caps when he picked me as captain (in 2011). He stuck by me.

"I do feel that I am a slightly different player when I am playing under Warren for Wales. He gives me a heck of a lot of confidence, and I think that brings out some of my better rugby.

"Some of the best games I've played have been under Warren's guidance. A lot of the things I have achieved in my career, a massive part of that is due to Warren."
Source: AFP