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.
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"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
“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
3 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.
2 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 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)
3 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.
4 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.
3 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 commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments