Gough hoping to lift Wales

With the British and Irish Lions calling on 12 Welshman as well as head coach Warren Gatland and assistant coach Shaun Edwards and a contingent from the Dragons also missing ahead of a Heineken Cup play-off in Italy on Friday, caretaker coach Robin McBryde's player pool features plenty of inexperience, including six uncapped players.

"We've got to make the (newcomers) realise what we're all about, what Wales is all about and the epitome of that is going out and making sure all the skills are right at the top level and, everybody, making sure we live up to our world ranking," Gough said.

"We're a quality team and just because a few players are missing we can't slip below that mark that we've set in the past.

"It's up to us to really punch our weight and drag these young players into international rugby and start them off in their career."

With McBryde set to name a Test team and bench on Tuesday to face Canada that is sure to have a sprinkling of debutants, Gough said that the physical presence of the Canadians, who pushed Ireland hard in Vancouver last Saturday before succumbing 25-6, means there are plenty of incentives for the older Welsh players to succeed as well.

"We've never had an easy game against these guys. If the scoreline sometimes suggests it's been an easy day then they haven't seen the first 60 or 70 minutes of that game," he said. "You have to keep fighting against these guys because they don't give up on you.

"It's always huge, they're always well up for it and they're a physical bunch as well. So it means you've got to be technically superb at what you're doing.

"We saw the Ireland game on tape and we've had a look through that. They played really well and so it's going to take a fair effort from us and, again, being technically right and making sure we gel as a team.

"This is the first time this team is going to be together and we have to make sure we gel very quickly."