Patchell: 'Dan takes a lot of heat in the press'
Rhys Patchell has described fellow Wales fly-half Dan Biggar as “an unbelievable competitor” after they combined to help sink World Cup rivals Australia.
Patchell kicked Wales to victory with a 14-point haul after replacing Biggar, who failed a head injury assessment (HIA) following a try-saving tackle on juggernaut Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi.
Wales’ 29-25 success – their first World Cup win against Australia for 32 years – put them firmly in control of Pool D and on course for a potential quarter-final appointment with France or Argentina.
“Dan is awesome,” Patchell said.
“He takes a lot of heat in the press for whatever reason, but it’s only when you are around him on a day-to-day basis what an unbelievable competitor he is and how much he wants to win.
Wallabies star Samu Kerevi has doubled down on the prospect of switching to rugby league ?https://t.co/FG36nXUmeq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 30, 2019
“Fair play, that was a real act of bravery on our line. He flew into Kerevi. We were thinking that maybe here is a try, and then he comes in with that tackle.”
Biggar will go through the required HIA protocols, and Wales have nine days until their next game against Fiji in Oita.
The squad arrived at their Lake Biwa base in Otsu on Monday from Tokyo, where they will begin preparations for the next stage of their pool campaign later this week.
Reflecting on the Australia success, Patchell added: “It was great to be out there and great to be able to help out in what was a massive squad effort.
“We said we needed a big performance. It is good that we went to the wire with them and came out the right side of the ledger.
(continue reading below…)
"We're gonna win the World Cup!" ???????
Welsh fans have a message for @jimhamilton4 and the World after famous win over Australia. #RugbyWorldCup #AUSvWAL pic.twitter.com/WuLfgSDkyQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 29, 2019
“We have put ourselves in a good position, but there are two games still to go in the group, and it’s important that we rest up properly, recover properly and prepare correctly for Fiji.
“It (Australia) was a job well done in terms of getting the result, but it doesn’t count for anything if we don’t back it up against Fiji.”
Wales held off a spectacular Wallabies fightback at Tokyo Stadium, with Australia almost wiping out an 18-point deficit before a late Patchell penalty sealed the deal.
Wales forward Aaron Shingler is also a regional team-mate of Patchell’s at the Scarlets, and he was not surprised by his performance.
“He would say himself he was probably behind in the pecking order coming into the World Cup with (Gareth) Anscombe and (Dan) Biggar one and two,” Shingler said.
“He got his opportunity and delivered. I’ve seen that plenty of times before, and it was great to see him starring in that number 10 spot.”
?"Someone will make a meme out of this"
To Alun Wyn Jones
cc: @WelshRugbyUnionHi Alun Wyn,
Mission Accepted ??
Kind regards,#RWC2019 #AUSvWAL #RWCTokyo pic.twitter.com/QaQbwFTqI1
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 29, 2019
Reflecting on events, Shingler added: “The boys that started are a bit battered and bruised. There was great excitement in the group after we got the win.
“On the bus journey back from the ground, there was some good banter, a good feeling.
“The boys had a quiet few beers then and relaxed, had a bit of food and went to bed as normal. Waking up this morning there was a great buzz in the camp.”
And wing Josh Adams said: “It seems we’ve always drawn Australia in World Cups gone by, and always lost narrowly, so it’s brilliant to get one over on them….32 years – we were due one.
“We will have some well-deserved rest as the boys were shattered coming off that pitch. Then we will look at Fiji.”
Watch: Kerevi livid at penalty
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’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.
10 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.
9 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 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?
5 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 comments