THIS will be our World Cup final, says Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns ahead of Friday night’s third place play-off against France at Eden Park.

Far from feeling Wales are now involved in an anti-climax of a game after being edged out by France in Saturday night’s dramatic semi-final, Burns says they will regroup and go again.

"There is the potential for finishing third in the World Cup, so that is a massive incentive. Every game means something anyway and when you pull the jersey on it is a very special occasion," said Burns.

"We are not deflated at all. Obviously there was disappointment in the changing rooms after the game because we could and should have won. We were gutted but we’ve got to move on, get on with it and prepare for the game against Australia.

"Australia are a good side and any team involved in a third place play-off is going to be strong, but this is a game we’ll be looking to win.

"The spirit is still good among the boys, we are a pretty strong group as we have been together for a while. So playing in the third place play-off on Friday will be like a World Cup final for us. We definitely don’t want to be fourth.

"Australia is a game we can win though they are an all-round good side, elusive in the backs who can all make breaks. But there is still a lot of belief in the camp, we believe we can win every game."

Burns admits to being disappointed to receive so few chances in the World Cup, starting just one game against Namibia and failing to get on in the quarter-final against Ireland or the semi-final against France.

But he remains supportive of first choice Huw Bennett all the same and he rates Australian hooker Stephen Moore one of the best in the business.

"I want to get on in every game, but it’s been very tight and there haven’t been many changes," he said.

"Sometimes it can go against you, but hopefully I will get some game time. It is still higher than anything I have played before and I like to think I’ve improved as a player.

"But Huw has been playing well, the best I’ve ever seen him play and all credit to him for that.

"Moore is a class player, a good ball carrier, an all-rounder who has got everything in his game.

"But we still have a never-say-die attitude, we will keep going, keep trying and won’t give up."