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The Scott Baldwin verdict on the intriguing Wales' hooker situation
Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin believes Wales will have enough “dog” in them to do well at Rugby World Cup 2023. Having given up on the chance to appear at a second Rugby World Cup in order to begin his coaching journey as defence coach at Newcastle Falcons, the 35-year-old will be an interested spectator when Wales open their Pool C campaign against Fiji in Bordeaux on September 10.
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Wales have come unstuck to Fiji at a France-based Rugby World Cup before, a 38-34 defeat in Nantes ultimately costing Gareth Jenkins his job. And while a second tournament defeat to the Pacific Islanders wouldn’t bring about an immediate regime change, it would be another low point in what is already a troubled time for the team.
“When you look back, Wales teams never really get hammered, they always find a way. I just feel like with everyone writing them off, they will grind out wins and the more they grow as a team, the less other teams will want to play them,” Baldwin told RugbyPass.
“I don’t know whether you have seen the Rising Sun documentary when Rassie Erasmus is talking about Wales he is literally like, ‘They are not England, they are not Ireland, they are not going to go away, they are going to be there for 80 minutes.’ I feel like Waren (Gatland) will instil that in them.”
After Fiji, whom Baldwin scored against at RWC 2015, Wales face Portugal and then Australia before taking on Georgia. Georgia won 13-12 victory in Cardiff the last time they met in November.
“You look at Fiji, and Wales almost lost to Fiji at the Principality Stadium (in 2021), and that was against 13 men. So, it is not an easy group but hopefully the youngsters can go out and shine. I probably always go with my heart over my head but, hopefully, they will do really well.”
With Ken Owens’ dodgy back preventing him from going to a fourth Rugby World Cup, Baldwin would have been in the conversation for one of the hooker slots in Gatland’s squad. However, he has no regrets about missing out on, as he did in 2019 when choosing to move to Harlequins.
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“There was the potential to go to the World Cup, on the back of the Six Nations, but I spoke to a few coaches and they all said it [Newcastle] is a great step for you, and what are you playing for now? Turning up on the first day of pre-season at Ospreys was all the confirmation I needed that I was done.”
Now the onus is on Baldwin’s former Ospreys teammate, Dewi Lake, to stand up and deliver. The 24-year-old Test rookie has only made one start in eight caps and faces competition for the No2 jersey from Sam Parry, Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee.
“I believe Dewi Lake is going to be an unbelievable player, and this is a huge opportunity for him to be number one for Wales,” said Baldwin. “It would have been nice for him to have had Ken’s experience there, especially with the other experience that has left (the squad), but I am sure he will deliver.”
'I never intended to be as honest as I was in that conversation'@scottbaldwin2 's gambling addiction started properly in Italy and went unnoticed for years, but his house of cards eventually collapsed, writes @heagneyl 👨💻https://t.co/10PPbghSF0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
2 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
2 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
2 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
2 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
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