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Gatland: 'Down to business now'
Warren Gatland says Wales’ focus is on “competition rugby” as they continue counting down to their World Cup opener against Georgia.
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Gatland’s team are set to go into that September 23 encounter without locks Adam Beard and Cory Hill.
Beard is recovering from having his appendix removed and hopes to join the squad in Japan next week, while Hill is continuing rehabilitation following a stress fracture in his leg.
A pivotal Pool D clash against Australia six days after the Georgia game is the likely target for both players.
“We’ve picked up a couple of injuries and there is a concern at the moment with the second rows,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland at the squad’s base in Kitakyushu.
“He (Beard) is hoping to come out on Thursday and probably not going to be available for selection for the Georgia game.
“But we are hopeful – and the medics are confident – that he will be available for selection for the Australia game.”
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It suggests that Jake Ball will be skipper Alun Wyn Jones’ second-row partner for the Georgia game, with flanker Aaron Shingler providing lock bench cover.
On Hill, Gatland added: “(The medics) are confident that he will be available for selection against Australia.
“He’s been out of his boot and on the training field today, even though he wasn’t doing any running.
Three members of our #RWC2019 squad share their different experiences of the @rugbyworldcup from our specially designed #CadairCymru ? Tro @RhysCarre, @rhys_patch a @Gar_Davies9 yw hi yn y Gadair arbennig ? pic.twitter.com/53tu2WoCGl
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 13, 2019
“Hopefully, after that Georgia game he will be back training and available for selection.”
The Wales squad are enjoying temperatures of around 30 degrees and unbroken sunshine in the southern Japanese city, where they will be based until Thursday.
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They have also received a warm welcome, with hundreds of schoolchildren greeting their arrival at the airport, while banners and flags of support are draped all over the city.
Wales lost three of their four World Cup warm-up games during the past month, but those results will have little relevance when it comes to tournament business in Japan.
“We haven’t shown much in our play so far – we’ve played differently as well – but now the focus is really on competition rugby,” Gatland said.
“We feel that it’s important to get off to a good start, and if we do that, hopefully we can qualify for the quarter-finals out of this group.
“It’s going to be tough for us, but if we do that it’s then one game at a time.
“There is a lot of confidence and self-belief in this side that if we play to our potential we can go a long way in this tournament.”
Fly-half Rhys Patchell, meanwhile, has done some non-contact work after suffering concussion during Wales’ final World Cup warm-up game against Ireland eight days ago.
“He has gone through the HIA (head injury assessment) protocols,” Gatland added.
“He was training this morning, just doing some non-contact stuff at this stage.
“We will ease him back into contact work later in the week, making sure that we go through the protocols and ensure he’s 100 per cent and available for selection.”
WARREN GATLAND ON WHY WALES CAN WIN THE WORLD CUP
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
6 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
8 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
8 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments