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Eyeing the upset Wales sets out to achieve unthinkable in World Cup semis
LONDON (AP) -- Iestyn Harris leads Wales into the seemingly impossible task Sunday of stopping nine-time champion Australia from reaching yet another rugby league World Cup final. The day after two more powerhouse teams, England and New Zealand, meet in the other semifinal, Harris and his Welsh team will enjoy playing a semifinal for the second championship in a row. If he gets his team any further, it will go down as probably the biggest upset in the history of the game and make Harris an even bigger name than he is now. Sunday's game couldn't be better timed for the 24-year-old Leeds fly half, who is thinking over the option of going into rugby union or maybe playing league in Australia once his current contract ends. If he chooses union, he would walk into the Welsh national team. If he went to Australia he would enhance an already big reputation and make a lot of money. "I'm not hiding the fact that I want to play rugby union but, if the opportunity arose, I'd like to play in Australia," Harris said. "You are kidding yourself f you say Australian rugby league is not the best game in the world. You always like to challenge yourself against the best and I'd like to do that." What better way than to prove himself against the Australian national team at the McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield, on Sunday. Wales" chances of an upset rest heavily on Harris, although the team has plenty of talent from the big clubs from the English Premiership such as St. Helens fullback Paul Atcheson and hooker Keiron Cunningham. But the injury-hit Welsh, who scored an impressive 22-8 victory over Papua New Guinea in the quarterfinal, have been criticized for calling up former rugby union stars Paul Moriarty and John Devereux. By contrast, the Australians have been accused in the Welsh media of arrogance by resting two of their star players, Cronulla winger Mat Rogers, the tournament's joint leading scorer, and Newcastle scrum half Andrew Johns, for next weekend's final at Old Trafford. Coach Chris Anderson's explanation was that he wanted to give as many players as possible some action. "They're knocking on my door every night saying why aren't we in the team so they'll get their shot," he said. "We've put as strong a side as we could out there for this match. We're not taking it lightly." Even without Rogers and Johns, the Australians should still be too strong for the Welsh, having scored 264 points in their four games so far. The hot favorites outplayed Samoa 66-10 in the quarterfinal, with Sydney City back row Bryan Fletcher leading the try charge with three of the 14 scores. The other semifinal at Bolton's Reebok soccer stadium brings together the two teams who are realistically vying to be runner-up. The English were boosted by being able to recall loose-forward Paul Sculthorpe for the game. The talented St. Helens star has missed all four games so far because of a hamstring problem. Despite his return and home advantage, England could still be the slight underdog to the New Zealanders, who have amassed 260 points so far to England's 170. Sculthorpe played for Britain in all three matches against the Kiwis in 1998 and has plenty of experience of the New Zealand style of play. "They are an awesome outfit and we are going to have to be on top form to win the game," he said. "They have class players all over the field and I've played against most of them, the likes of Stephen Kearney and Quentin Pongia. "They are always gong to be tough. They are a big set of lads but you've just got to perform on the day. But we wouldn't be here if we couldn't win it. Our aim is to win the World Cup." New Zealand winger Lesley Vainikolo, who ties with team captain Richie Barnett as New Zealand's top try scorer with six, is battling to overcome flu. "I got it in Hull last week and I've been struggling to shake it off," he said. "I've been given antibiotics by our team doctor but I can feel it affecting my breathing. I've been feeling pretty awful but hopefully I'll be right by match day."
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