Rugby World Cup 2015: Wales can reach final - Gerald Davies

Wales were beaten by World Cup rivals England in the 2015 Six Nations and have not beaten Australia in 10 attempts

Former wing Gerald Davies believes Wales can win their World Cup pool and go on to reach the final.

Wales will be vying with hosts England and Australia to top their pool, which also includes Fiji and Uruguay.

Pool A will claim one high-profile victim but Davies says Wales know what it takes to beat England and Australia.

"If they beat England and Australia - and they've got it within them to do that - and top the group there's a good line to the final," he said.

Wales kick off their World Cup campaign against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 20 September before facing England, Fiji and Australia. The top two will progress to the last eight.

The Pool A winners will face the runners-up of Pool B, which includes South Africa, Scotland and Samoa.

Australia will arrive at the World Cup as newly-crowned Rugby Championship winners and have not lost in 10 games to Wales, while England will have home advantage.

Fiji come into the tournament having won the Pacific Nations Cup and famously knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup.

Davies, who won 46 caps, has high hopes for Wales in the tournament but says they need to avoid slipping up against Fiji and Uruguay.

"People are talking about the pool being the 'pool of death' but when the World Cup comes around each game is going to be important," added Davies, now chairman of the Pro12.

"It depends how you play against that team on the day. Previous reputation has nothing to do with it in many ways.

"I'm quite confident in the Welsh team, provided they've got the tough, mental qualities to make sure that those games they ought to win they do win.

"We haven't had that certainty in the past, where they've been in control of matches but when the final whistle goes they've lost it.

"I think that's the main point for Wales."