Wales have never even made a final, let alone won a World Cup
Warren Gatland believes it would be an “unbelievable” achievement for Wales to reach the Rugby World Cup final.
The Six Nations champions will contest the Webb Ellis Cup against England or New Zealand if they beat South Africa in Yokohama on Sunday.
Two previous World Cup semi-final appearances – in 1987 and 2011 – resulted in defeats at the hands of New Zealand and France, respectively.
But Wales have won 20 of their last 23 Tests, bringing an exciting conclusion to Gatland’s success-laden coaching reign that started 12 years ago.
“I just think for us to get to the final of a World Cup, it will be unbelievable given the small playing numbers we have in Wales,” head coach Gatland said.
“We feel like we continually punch above our weight.
“But the greatest thing about this group of players, since I have been involved with Wales, is when they put that red jersey on and play for Wales, how much that means.
“If we can make the World Cup final with the playing numbers we have got, it would be one hell of an achievement.
“It’s one step at a time. We have got a challenge on our hands on Sunday against a side that has been improving.
“I am excited about it. I’m more looking forward to this game than I was last week (the quarter-final against France), and more confident about this game than we probably were against France.
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“There are probably nine or 10 players who won’t be involved in another World Cup as well, so they have got to relish that opportunity and be excited about this.
“You have got a chance to do something special in your life, and these chances come along very rarely and you have got to grab them with both hands.
“When you want something bad enough and you really, really want it, then it can happen.”
Gatland will head home to New Zealand to coach Hamilton-based Super Rugby side the Chiefs next year before taking charge of the 2021 British and Irish Lions’ South Africa tour.
“I have not looked that far ahead,” he added. “I am not sure the WRU (Welsh Rugby Union) would let me take the World Cup back to New Zealand!
For all the Wales fans who made it through the night without any nightmares… We've got some bad news for you. https://t.co/mTWyK6B754 #RWC2019 #RWCYokohama #WALvRSA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2019
“They are things you have to dream about, and one of the things about me is that I am probably the greatest optimist in terms of believing something is possible and that there is a dream.
“If you don’t have that attitude and portray it, it will not happen. A big part of success is the belief and the desire to do something.
“That is what we will be building on in the next two days, and I can go back to New Zealand with my head held high.
“The biggest thing I am proud of (with Wales) is that I think we have earned respect from the rest of the world in terms of what we have achieved in the last 12 years.
“The world rankings where we were at (10th), what we have achieved in terms of Six Nations and Grand Slams… I would love to beat the All Blacks, and that is one thing I have not achieved. Respect for what we have done is the biggest thing.”
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Wales have beaten South Africa five times in the last six meetings, although it has not prevented Wales from being written off in some quarters.
“If they continue to do that (write Wales off) over the next couple of days, that would be brilliant,” Gatland said. “Please continue to do that, as it does get us up when people write us off.
“It will probably be a kicking fest (on Sunday), they (South Africa) kicked 30 times against Japan, so we just have got to be able to handle their game.
“It won’t be the prettiest game in the world, it will be a tight Test match with probably teams playing for territory, depending on what the weather is like.”
Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off during France’s loss to Wales in the World Cup semi-finals, but he’ll be spending a lot more than just 40 minutes on the sidelines:
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
86 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments