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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.
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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.
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“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.
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“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
Shame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
2 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
2 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
2 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
2 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to comments