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 guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments