AUCKLAND (AP) ― Wales has been hitting all the right notes in its behavior at the Rugby World Cup ― unlike some other teams ― with winger Shane Williams singing the squad’s praises for choosing “choir practice” over big nights out.

The boozy antics of several England players earlier in the tournament cast Martin Johnson’s team in a bad light, and they were not the only ones to slip up, with New Zealand winger Cory Jane having to apologize for a drinking session only days before his team played Argentina in the quarterfinal.

Wales teams of the past may have been fond of a big night out, but this time it has been all about keeping a lid on late-night revelry and focusing intensely on preparation.

An intense pre-World Cup training program, coupled with a no-drinking policy, hammered that message home.

“It would have been a waste really to come to the World Cup and drink yourself silly. We’ve enjoyed meals together ... we’ve done some choir practice, that’s for sure,” Williams said ahead of Saturday’s semifinal against France. “We knew we had a job to do out here, simple as that, really. You’ve got to train the next morning, front up and be ready for the game.

“It has been a balance obviously,” he said. “We worked very hard prior to the World Cup, we tried to have a no-drinking policy, where we were away in Poland for two weeks. Toughest training I’ve ever done.”

While the team’s self-imposed alcohol ban has been relaxed a little recently, the players and staff are fully aware of the need to be in complete control.

“One or two quiet beers after the game, but that’s all they’ve been. We’ve been very focused on what’s ahead the following week,” Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins said. “We haven’t got an awful lot of time to recover, there’s a lot of short turnabouts. We had that from Fiji to Ireland.”