The selection masterstroke that clinched Wales' place as the third best team on the planet
Wales have entered uncharted territory. Victory against South Africa on Saturday was the ninth in a row for Warren Gatland’s side, securing a first-ever November clean sweep and extending the team’s longest winning streak of the current millennium.
That they achieved that with their most assured performance of the autumn meant that despite a suspected ACL injury picked up by Ellis Jenkins late on, the bars around St Mary Street filled up with a feeling not usually associated with Cardiff at this time of year: optimism.
For Wales supporters these are heady days. Amidst the euphoria of a fourth successive defeat of the Springboks, thoughts inevitably raced towards the Six Nations and home games against both England and Ireland.
Winning, as unlikely try-scoring hero Tomas Francis noted after the game, is a habit and entering Gatland’s final year in charge it seems his team has picked up the knack at an opportune time.
There was a sense around the Principality Stadium that this was the type of contest Wales would most likely have lost in previous years. It could be argued too that this was a team that would not have been picked.
Unable to call on Leigh Halfpenny as the full-back continues to battle concussion symptoms, Gatland was bold.
He could have shifted Gareth Anscombe into the back three and rewarded Dan Biggar for his man-of-the-match performance against Tonga with a start at 10, but that would not have chimed with what has been an autumn of expansion as well as triumph.
Picking Liam Williams to replace Halfpenny, and retaining Anscombe at fly-half, suggested that Wales wanted to start quickly against the Springboks.
And Gatland was rewarded for being brave. Williams was unable to regather his ninth minute up-and-under but as he tussled with RG Snyman the ball broke into the arms of the galloping Alun Wyn Jones and the attack that would ultimately lead to Francis’ first Test try was set in motion.
It would not take long for the Saracens man to have a more direct impact on proceedings as a wonderfully looped pass from Anscombe found him in space and he stepped inside Siya Kolisi to score.
The South African defence, much like BBC commentator Eddie Butler, had been sucked in by the presence of George North and were left flat-footed as Anscombe used him as a decoy.
The try highlighted the advantage of having a world-class finisher at full-back but this was not a vintage all-round display from Williams. He was caught in possession as Elton Jantjies narrowed the Springbok deficit to just three points and then produced a nervy wayward clearance with his side leading by six.
On the whole, though, there were enough positive signs, especially in his early link-up play with Anscombe and North, to suggest that Wales should stick with him at full-back when they open their Six Nations campaign against France in Paris.
Williams brought up his half-century of Wales caps against Tonga seven days previously but this was only his 21st appearance for his country in the number 15 shirt and fourth against a southern hemisphere nation in that position.
This month has shown what can be achieved when faith is shown in players. Nicky Smith and Adam Beard, for example, were both excellent against South Africa while Anscombe has grown into the 10 shirt.
One moment early in the second half perhaps best encapsulated the potential dividends that sticking with Williams at 15 could reap. Anscombe sent a crossfield kick high towards the right touchline where North rose to knock down for his former Scarlets team-mate.
Williams in turn got an offload away to Jonathan Davies in support and for a split second it looked as though Wales were about to score a try for the ages. Unfortunately for the hosts, the pass to Davies had drifted forward but the invention and intent was clear.
Halfpenny has, of course, done nothing wrong and remains one of the best defensive full-backs in the world. He is also metronomic from the kicking tee but Anscombe – albeit having struck the post with a fairly routine effort on Saturday – and Biggar are proven goalkickers.
It will take a run of games and some faith from the coaching team but if Wales want to play a more expansive game against the bigger nations then Williams is their man.
However Gatland decides to line up in Paris on February 1, though, it is testament to the work that he, his coaches and the players have done that there is now genuine depth in every position.
There will not be a crossed word between Halfpenny and Williams, either. This is a squad whose success has been built on camaraderie.
That was evident as all 22 players consoled their stricken team-mate, Jenkins, as he lay prone on a stretcher at the full-time whistle and was on display last week as Gatland revealed the squad helped to raise £24,000 at a charity evening.
“We’ve got a good group of players at the moment who the Welsh public should be really proud of,” Gatland said.
“The way they conduct themselves, both on and off the field and the way they’ve prepared in this campaign and trained, they’ve been absolutely outstanding.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments