Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins insists the spirit within his squad is "immense" and remains unaffected by the criticism which followed Saturday's defeat to Australia.

Jenkins has not enjoyed too many home comforts during Wales' two-match stint in Cardiff. The reaction to Saturday's defeat has shocked him.

And after naming his side to face Japan at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday night, Jenkins issued a stinging rebuke to the critics claiming they are out of touch with reality.

"We have come back to Wales and we just can't believe the country we have come back to. We can't believe the way we have been received and the way we have been reported on,'' said Jenkins.

"We just don't understand what the hell is going on? There are a lot of personal issues out there, there are a lot of personal agendas.

"Our press is personalising everything at the moment and is not behind us. That is disappointing.

"There is a real negativity around in Wales about our performances. If people have a good look at our performance against Australia we made a real game of it and we are not in bad shape.

"It is a disappointing but it hasn't come into the group. The negativity doesn't enter us. We are just amazed.

"We are strong, we know what we are doing. We have a huge regard and respect for what we are trying to do and we are very positive.

"I do believe Welsh rugby is behind us and I do believe our supporters are behind us. I don't think the press are reflecting how the supporter actually feels. There is a disparity somewhere.''

Jenkins' relationship with the local media has worsened in recent weeks and he is not talking to one publication.

Last week, Jenkins claimed certain sections of the press had been attempting to "discredit'' and "destroy'' fly-half Stephen Jones.

This week, he was angered by suggestions a rift had developed in the camp after senior players Martyn Williams and Stephen Jones declared the need for a tactical review after the Australia game.

The Welsh management moved quickly to clarify that all tactical decisions are made jointly between the players and coaching staff. Jones and Williams were giving the players' point of view.

Jenkins explained: "There is a style of rugby that suits us and we are playing with that style. That is not going to change. "With every game we look at who we play against and we - collectively the players and the coaches - will eventually agree on that plan.

"We will have a clear view of how we want to play against Japan and look to implement it from the start.

"On Thursday we want to show to everybody that we are making progress and that needs to be reflected in the way we play,'' said Jenkins.

"That is a statement from the whole group. The players feel the same way. This is a game we want a big performance in. The win is vital, it's a key game.''

Jenkins, hamstrung by a five-day turnaround and the loss of centres Gareth Thomas and Sonny Parker to injury, has made 10 changes from the Australia game.

James Hook and Jamie Robinson form the centre partnership, Kevin Morgan returns at full-back and Dafydd James comes onto the wing while Mike Phillips gets a run out at scrum-half.

Up front, Alix Popham reclaims the number eight shirt with Jonathan Thomas returning to blindside flanker and Colin Charvis starting on the open-side.

Will James makes his World Cup debut at lock while Duncan Jones and Chris Horsman will prop Rhys Thomas.

"We have been a real positive bunch of players all the way through. The spirit has been immense. The whole squad has been behind every selection we have made,'' said Jenkins.

"These boys are having their opportunity now, it has been a long wait for some but they will to be a worthy part of this World Cup squad when they get their opportunity on Thursday.''

Jenkins has retained a nucleus of senior players in Stephen Jones, who captains the side, Alun-Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Colin Charvis and Shane Williams, who will win his 50th Wales cap.

There was further positive news on the injury front too, with Gareth Thomas set to be fit for the quarter-finals after a scan showed his rib cartilage damage is not as bad as first feared.

Thomas thought he would be out of the tournament - but he could theoretically be available to play Fiji in the last pool game.

Japan coach John Kirwan has made just one change in personnel to his starting XV for Thursday's World Cup Pool B clash with Wales in Cardiff.

With full-back Go Aruga not recovering from the ankle injury he sustained in the 35-31 defeat to Fiji last time out, Christian Loamanu moves from the wing to number 15.

Kosuke Endo switches from the left to the right wing in place of Loamanu, so Hirotoki Onozawa - the one personnel change - is promoted from the bench to the left flank.

The Japanese have lost both of their matches in the tournament, the Fiji reverse coming after a 91-3 thrashing by Australia in Lyon.

+ Wales have never lost to Japan in 10 meetings.

+ Wales and Japan have met at two previous World Cups. Wales won 57-10 in 1995 and 64-15 in 1999.

+ Wales' biggest win against Japan was 98-0 at the Millennium Stadium in November, 2004.

+ Colin Charvis scored four tries in the game and Gavin Henson landed 14 conversions.

+ Shane Williams has also scored four tries in one game against Japan - Wales' 64-10 victory in 2001.

+ Shane Williams wins his 50th Test cap.

+ Williams has scored 32 tries in 49 Tests and is one short of Ieuan Evans on the list of all-time Welsh try-scorers.

+ Stephen Jones will captain Wales for the eighth time. He is yet to win a game as skipper.

+ Japan are 18th in the IRB world rankings, 10 places below Wales.

+ Japan's coach John Kirwan played on the wing for inaugural World Cup winners New Zealand in 1987.

Wales: Kevin Morgan; Dafydd James, Jamie Robinson, James Hook, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Chris Horsman, Will James, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Colin Charvis, Alix Popham.

Replacements: Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans, Martyn Williams, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney, Tom Shanklin.

Japan: Christian Loamanu; Kosuke Endo, Yuta Imamura, Shotaro Onishi, Hirotoki Onozawa; Bryce Robins, Tomoki Yoshida; Takuro Miuchi (capt), Philip O'Reilly, Hare Makiri; Luke Thompson, Hitoshi Ono; Soma Tomokazu, Yuji Matsubara, Tatsukishi Nishiura.

Replacements: Taku Inokuchi, Ryo Yamamura, Takanori Kumagae, Yasunori Watanabe, Kim Chul-won, Koji Taira, Tatsuya Kusumi.