TOKYO, 31 Oct - He chose not to respond to his selection with a joke this time, but James Davies is still hoping to have the last laugh in the bronze final.

When told by Warren Gatland he would be starting the pool game against Fiji for his World Cup bow, Davies replied that the Wales head coach had "finally seen the light".

"No joke this time," he said, ahead of Friday's match against New Zealand at Tokyo Stadium. "I didn't think it was the right week for it after the weekend."

The flanker, above, is one of nine changes to the side that lost the semi-final to South Africa on Sunday.

"I've been patient with selection as our back row have been outstanding all tournament. It's great to get a chance to start, and hopefully we can put in a performance in the final one.

"We've trained as a group for five months and it's the last one we're going to have together so it's 'balls out', as they say, to see if we can get a win.

"This is not the game we wanted to be playing in but this is how the cards have been dealt. We are back training now and everyone is excited about the opportunity that we've got against New Zealand.

"I saw something the other day that we haven't beaten them for 66 years so it's a chance to create history. It would be in a different way than we wanted to but it's another chance to give something to the fans back home to relish."

Davies admitted the defeat against the Springboks was crushing as they looked to end Gatland's reign with a World Cup title.

"It's been tough for a few days but sometimes perspective is a good thing. It's a game of rugby at the end of the day and there are bigger things.

"You look at Tokyo this month and there were deaths from the typhoon, so for me perspective is very humbling." 

Davies, 28, is confident the new coaching team he knows from his Scarlets days - incoming head coach Wayne Pivac and Stephen Jones, who has been part of the set-up in Japan - can build on Gatland's legacy of three Grand Slams in the Six Nations Championship.

"I haven't worked with Warren as much as most but when I have, he has been brilliant. He's a good coach and you just look at this success. People have questioned him in the past but he's always delivered.

"You have to move on and it's exciting times ahead for Welsh rugby with new coaches. This has been brilliant for Steve to get a bit of a head start with the players and all the staff. He's been fantastic.

"I've worked with him in the past and I can't wait to keep working with him if I'm selected in squads going forward. On a personal and squad level, and Welsh rugby level, it's really exciting times.

"Wayne gave me my opportunity at the Scarlets. I'm excited to see how well he does when we get back. I'm sure he'll relish it and do really well."

RNS ig/js/mr/co