(Wales head coach Warren Gatland)[Getty/Kyodo]

OITA, Japan - Wales will aim to exorcise painful Rugby World Cup memories and extend the tenure of head coach Warren Gatland by at least one more game when they face France in the quarterfinals of the tournament on Sunday.

In their only previous World Cup meeting, Gatland's men were heavily favored to beat Les Bleus in the semifinals of the 2011 tournament, but lost 9-8 following a red card to Sam Warburton after just 19 minutes in Auckland.

The New Zealand-born Gatland, who is set to end his 12-year reign after the tournament, has meticulously prepared for Sunday's match at Oita Stadium, emphasizing the win-or-go-home stakes to his players, according to Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones.

"To echo Gats' point, it's one chance to stay or you know where you are going," Jones said.

(Wales head coach Warren Gatland (L) and Dan Biggar)

"With regards to Gats, it's funny because the planning for this has probably been in his head for the last 10 years rather than the last four, two or 18 months."

"He is constantly building, and what we have achieved or have not -- whether it is strength in depth, training facilities or whatever -- comes to this moment."

Wales should enter the match confidently, having beaten France in six of their past seven Six Nations meetings.

Gatland has picked a starting XV identical to the side that outlasted Australia 29-25 in their Pool D match on Sept. 29, with flyhalf Dan Biggar making his return.

The star playmaker suffered a worrying head injury in Wales' 29-17 win against Fiji on Oct. 9, but has been medically cleared to resume playing.

After nearly two weeks off, following the typhoon-related cancellation of their Pool C match with England, France coach Jacques Brunel will start a XV featuring five changes from the side that beat Tonga on Oct. 6.

(Paul Gabrillagues (blue) of France and Sione Kalamafoni of Tonga battle for a lineout.)

Fullback Maxime Medard is the sole survivor from the semifinal win over Wales eight years ago, while the starting front row of Jefferson Poirot, Guilhem Guirado and Rabah Slimani will pack down together for the 16th time, a record for France in the professional era.

Winger Yoann Huget, who will start at No. 11, said the French players are raring to go after the long layoff, but know they need a calm, collected performance to overcome Wales.

"It's been building up little by little. We can't allow ourselves to be like caged lions and let it go 48 hours beforehand," Huget said.

"We've watched the video, we've trained hard. Now we need to release the pressure, go out on the pitch and let loose."