How are Wales shaping up ahead of Japan?
Wales finished their month of shadow-boxing the Northern Hemisphere’s finest with their most insipid 40 minutes of the summer. Double-headers against England and Ireland were never going to be the crowd-pleasing, try-laden mismatches that would have allowed Wales to swagger into the World Cup, yet that rigour and scrutiny will surely benefit Warren Gatland’s men for the arm-wrestles ahead in Japan.
However with Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe lost to injury, planning for perfection has come at a cost, so what sort of shape will they be in when Mamuka Gorgodze and his Georgian brethren bare their teeth on September 23?
Playtime is over
You know those Rocky films, where training sequences, backed by uplifting rock anthems have Stallone and Carl Weathers running themselves into the ground before the action cuts to the Madison Square Garden changing-rooms, and the protagonists are being strapped up, ready to go hell for leather, well that’s Wales, metaphorically, right now. In the sheds, looking for inner-strength and redemption. They fly out to Japan on Wednesday, to see if all the grunts and grimaces of the summer training camps and 320 minutes of game-time was worth it. Mike Tyson used to rasp, ‘everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth’, and it’s likely that September 29, when Wales play Australia, is set to be a defining round with Michael Hooper, David Pocock and Samu Kerevi waiting to unleash quickfire combinations. Whether Wales are still bobbing and weaving or flat on the canvas, could go down to a points decision.
Expectations are checked
When Wales were anointed the World’s No 1 team a fortnight ago, Warren Gatland was almost embarrassed. He stressed that only the side lifting the William Webb Ellis Cup could be viewed as peerless and a fortnight later, they find themselves in a more familiar fifth spot. He may not admit to it publicly but I have a suspicion Gatland is at ease being in the chasing pack. As a guide to how quickly fortunes can change, only 16 days ago, after being annihilated 57-15 by England, Ireland were ‘in crisis’, but they now go to Japan with confidence largely restored and the World No 1 status after a brace of wins over Wales. Indeed, while the England game wasn’t really a true representation of Joe Schmidt’s team, nor is three losses out of four time to hit the panic button in Wales. It’s a reset, a calibration. A case of both sides finding their level. If you look at the bookies, that’s nestled behind New Zealand, South Africa and England. A semi-final for both sides would represent marked progress, especially for Ireland who have never made it past the quarters.
'I like Gatty, but that stuff irritated me after the game. It was condescending and insulting'https://t.co/eTnz4lVNab
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 9, 2019
Wales’ cutting edge needs sharpening
There’s no wilier fox than Warren Gatland, who could easily hold an honorary doctorate in cunning from Cardiff University, and you’d be a fool to think he’s showcased his attacking hand. I have no doubt Wales will show more derring-do when facing the likes of Georgia and Uruguay but there’s no getting away from the feeling that Wales currently lack the wherewithal to carve open the top-tier sides at will. The facts are stark. They’ve scored 17 tries in 10 Tests in 2019. Compare that to England’s 38 in 10, and New Zealand’s 27 in five – that’s a marked difference. Making tight carries over the gainline was as rare as hen’s teeth in Dublin, with Jake Ball one of the few not clattered back into the Dublin turf. It would be reassuring to see Justin Tipuric being given more of a carte blanche to utilise his attacking instincts as a link-man. He is wasted purely as a target at the tail of a lineout, or an organisational lynchpin who holds up ball-carriers and looks for penalties. Out wide, Leigh Halfpenny for all his defensive dexterity doesn’t unsettle defenders and Josh Adams has been starved of ball for so long line-breaks have been consigned to the memory banks. Playing with more élan, flair, brio; call it what you want, is very much in order.
Time for new heroes
It’s nigh on impossible to know whether some of Wales’ superstars have played within themselves in the last month. The likes of Alun Wyn Jones, Liam Williams and Jonathan Davies have all ticked over without pulling up trees, but their experience will, of course, be integral to Wales’ progress into the latter stages. Wales need new stars, and in Aaron Wainwright, they have unearthed a gem who looks to have played himself into the starting line-up. Still just 21, Wainwright is in perpetual motion and the fearlessness of youth means he’s the type of athlete who will make grizzled Test veterans consider whether to step aside. He’s been revelation around the fringes, where he’s tackled with zeal, covered every blade of grass and steadily improved as a ball-carrier. Another young Dragon, Elliot Dee has been a decent support act, always rumbling into contact in Ken Owens’ absence, and that effervescence will be need to be continued by Rhys Carre, Owen Watkin and Watkin, who can unleash blitzkrieg from the bench.
Wales have never been in better shape going into a World Cup
I don’t think anyone but the most fervent Wales fan can say, hand on heart, that Wales were a dead-certs to lift the William Webb Ellis Cup and after a month of tinkering, where Wales have lost three out of four games, context, however, is given by Ireland occupying top-dog status and England in third. Wales were caught cold by England in their opening 20 minutes and shut out by Ireland in their final half but they were more than competitive in between. The nucleus of this side has not been torn apart since facing New Zealand in the summer of 2016. In 33 Tests since, their biggest losing margins has been 16 points (29-13 to Scotland in 2017) and 15 points (New Zealand 33-18) in November 2017. At full-strength, they are formidable and garner respect throughout the game. They are arguably the strongest Welsh side to enter the tournament since 1999 when Wales went into a home World Cup on the back of nine consecutive wins, but even then, there was a suspicion Wales had peaked in Argentina that summer. This time round Wales have an inner resolve, a confidence borne out of winning tight, meaningful games under pressure. That should make them a side to underestimate at your peril.
Starting XV for Georgia
15. Liam Williams
14. George North
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Josh Adams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Gareth Davies
8. Ross Moriarty
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Aaron Wainwright
5. Alun Wyn Jones
4. Jake Ball
3. Tomas Francis
2. Ken Owens
1. Wyn Jones
Bench: Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Josh Navidi, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Leigh Halfpenny
Alun Wyn Jones on the World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
well remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
13 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
12 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
3 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
3 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
12 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
13 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
12 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
12 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
12 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
119 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
12 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
13 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
3 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
12 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
13 Go to comments