'There is not really one stand-out team going into the World Cup'
Wales captain Dan Biggar believes that next year’s World Cup is “very much a level playing field” after northern hemisphere nations served emphatic notice of their credentials.
England remain the only European country to be crowned world champions following a Jonny Wilkinson-inspired triumph in Australia 19 years ago.
And while there is still more than a year before rugby union’s next global extravaganza takes centre-stage, the form guide is taking tantalising shape.
Ireland’s first victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand, England beating Australia in Brisbane, Wales ending 58 years of hurt on South African soil and Scotland toppling Argentina away from home represented a staggering super Saturday.
All four touring teams now enter series deciders next Saturday, while the sport’s world rankings are set for a considerable power-shift.
“It is really exciting looking forward to 12 months or so time in France,” Biggar said after Wales toppled the world champions 13-12 in Bloemfontein.
“There is not really one stand-out team going into the World Cup, as there has been the last couple of times probably where New Zealand have been streets ahead of everyone.
“It is very much a level playing field, and anyone can beat anyone.”
A week after pushing South Africa to the limit in a first Test thriller, Wales levelled the series when Gareth Anscombe kicked a touchline conversion two minutes from time after fellow substitute Josh Adams claimed his 20th Test try.
It was Wales’ first victory over the Springboks in South Africa, arriving at the 12th attempt, and came little more than three months after Biggar and company were defeated by Italy in Cardiff.
“Credit to Wayne (Wales head coach Pivac) and the management that we probably didn’t over-react to the end of the Six Nations,” added Biggar, who took a blow to his shoulder and went off early in the second half at Toyota Stadium.
“We definitely should have won against France, we could have won against England and we were obviously disappointed with the way things finished (against Italy).
“We stuck true to our guns and game-plan in terms of what we are trying to achieve.
“I think professional sport is so cut-throat. When you lose, those defeats tend to last for months and months, as opposed to sometimes your victories are over before you blink.
“There have been some very, very good Wales teams to have come here and been sent packing. We are a really tight-knit group, and everyone deserves a pat on the back.”
For matchwinner Anscombe, whose strike set up a series decider in Cape Town next Saturday, it proved a particularly sweet occasion following his long fight to overcome a career-threatening knee injury.
He missed the 2019 World Cup and more than two years of Test rugby, before returning against New Zealand last autumn.
“Last week was two years to the day when I had the surgery, the osteotomy, and it wasn’t about whether I was going to play again, it was whether I was going to run,” Anscombe told www.wru.co.uk.
“There were so many unknowns, and it is just a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment that I am here. My last big surgery – my third – was on July 7, 2020, and that was when everything got turned upside down.
“That effort, that kick, is the culmination of so many people’s work. I am just glad I was able to step up when I was supposed to and just do my job.
“Maybe I had the rugby gods on my side. I am just glad that I could play a part in this group achieving something pretty special.”
Anscombe missed the birth of his baby son Theo last month, having left it as late as possible in agreement with Pivac to leave for the South Africa tour, and he added: “It will be nice to show him this in 10 years’ time and say ‘this is why dad missed it’! Hopefully, he will understand.”
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments