Sam Warburton praises Wales fitness levels

Sam Warburton has claimed that Wales are fitter now than they were before the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Welsh were knocked out in the semi-finals of the tournament four years ago, losing 9-8 to France.

Warburton, 26, is pleased with the physical prowess that the squad is showing ahead of this year's competition.

"We are in a better place physically," the flanker is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "I think we started off from a better place from day one anyway.

"We probably got to the fitness levels that we were at in 2011 a couple of weeks ago and we've got a nice three-week block now until Ireland and we've still got to go up (a level) again."

Wales continue their World Cup preparations on August 29 when they face Ireland in Dublin.