'Wales are genuinely the better team' - Warburton rubs up Aussies ahead of World Cup fixture
Sam Warburton believes Wales are a better team than Australia ahead of their crucial World Cup pool meeting in Tokyo on September 29.
The Welsh had been on a terrible losing streak against the Wallabies in recent times, losing 13 fixtures in succession since a November 2008 win in Cardiff.
However, that rotten run was finally ended last November, Wales winning 9-6 in Cardiff, and Warburton claims this psychological breakthrough will be massive heading into their next meeting in Japan.
“Wales have done a lot of things right in the past 10 years when they have played Australia,” said the former skipper who retired last year.
“They have beaten them recently in the November series in 2018, which is great from a psychological point of view because you don’t want to be doing press conferences as a player and being asked questions that you haven’t won since 2008, so that monkey has gone, that’s off the back.
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“Wales have had the taking of Australia in the last 10 years but when you look at videos back, it’s literally just been one or two examples of perhaps where they might have left a try or not taking a three-point opportunity which has been the difference between the two teams.
“Both teams have been so close in recent years – but Wales are genuinely the better team at this moment in time,” continued the Land Rover ambassador who called time on his playing career at the age of just 29.
Wales will begin their preparations for the finals on the back of a record 14-match run that included the clinching of a third Six Nations Grand Slam under Warren Gatland last March. It’s a momentum Warburton feels will be invaluable heading to Japan.
“It does help massively. I’ve gone into World Cups where we have had a poor Six Nations campaigns and vice-versa, but it’s so much easier when you have wins under your belt.
“There’s still four warm-up games to go, double-headers against England and Ireland at home and away, so there’s going to be at least two or three of those games where both unions will put out their strongest teams.
“If you can come out on top in those games, then that will be huge moving forward, but you can completely lose the momentum you have got with say three losses out of four and it completely turns it on its head. Hopefully Wales can get a good few wins in that warm-up period and that will put them in really good shape going into the group stages.”
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— Scarlets Rugby (@scarlets_rugby) May 17, 2019
The disappointing regional season for the Welsh sides concludes on Saturday with Ospreys hosting Scarlets in a Champions Cup qualification play-off. Despite that important fixture, Gatland had already named his World Cup training squad and Warburton isn’t shy in naming some of the key figures who will be central to Wales’ mission in Japan.
“Alun-Wyn Jones, George North and Jonathan Davies are crucial to Wales success. Those guys, off the top of my head, I’m thinking, they have probably got seven World Cups in experience between those three players alone, so you need those guys for the younger guys so they know what to expect going into a World Cup.
Here it is! A few weeks ago I met @Cardiff_blues longest serving fan, 90 year old David Harris and along with @LandRoverRugby helped him get along to watch his team play in their last home fixture of the season. A remarkable man and a great vid, have a watch! https://t.co/kdFyZ9Wf8g
— Sam Warburton (@samwarburton_) May 16, 2019
“You’re away from home for potentially six or seven weeks, so you’re way out of your comfort zone. Particularly in Japan, it’s going to be completely different to anywhere else they would have played before. Those senior players are going to be really important to drive the standards that the players require to get to the latter stages of the World Cup.”
Warburton will be intrigued watching the finals unfold as he feels hosting the tournament in a lesser-known rugby nation like Japan can increase the global appeal of the game. “It’s huge,” he said. “I think Japan is really timely with their win against South Africa four years ago.
And to grow the game now you are looking at those countries like Japan and USA – they could be super powers of the game from a performance point of view in years to come and from a financial point of view and the fans and the player base they have is enormous as well.
“That’s two countries in particular which I think we’re doing a good job of tapping into. You want there to be 15 competitive teams. Right now, you’ve probably got eight/nine really competitive teams. If in two World Cup’s time you can develop that into 12 to 15 really strong, competitive teams, that would be great for the game of rugby.”
WATCH: Sam Warburton surprising a 90-year-old Cardiff Blues fan with a personalised drive to the club’s last game of the season. Land Rover understands and shares the values of rugby. Follow @LandRoverRugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments