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Wales player ratings vs Portugal | Rugby World Cup 2023
Wales made it two wins from two on Saturday evening against Portugal in Nice, but their 28-8 win was far from a vintage performance.
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The much-changed outfit had to wait until the final play of the game to pick up a crucial bonus point, and the question will now be how many of the players actually worked their way into Warren Gatland’s ideal XV with Australia looming next. Here’s how the players rated:
15 – Leigh Halfpenny – 7
Secure under the high ball and showed great spatial awareness whenever the game turned into a kicking contest. One important steal in his own 22 showed his all-round value. Replaced by Josh Adams with 11 minutes to go.
14 – Louis Rees-Zammit – 8
An outstanding bit of skill set up his own try. A clean catch and a quick grubber ahead meant he created the space behind the Portugal defensive line. He then put the afterburners on and gathered on the bounce to score. Not much else to do but if he does that once a game he’ll retire a hero. Not a bad way to notch your first World Cup try.
13 – Mason Grady – 6
Some good carries early on. Tried a long pass but failed to find it in the first half. An even 50 metres made with ball in hand but lacked that precision in midfield when it mattered.
12 – Johnny Williams – 6
Second only to Rees-Zammit in terms of metres made. He was involved in a few busting runs but, like his midfield partner, struggled for rhythm. A cynical yellow card most likely saved a try. Should have had one of his own but spilled over the line when a score would have been the safest bet.
11 – Rio Dyer – 7
Industrious when asked to get involved. Cut infield but lacked the space needed to really shine. Still, a decent whack for the youngster,
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10 – Gareth Anscombe – 5
Wales needed control and they never got it from the man tasked with that job. Didn’t do enough to nudge Dan Biggar off his perch. Sam Costelow replaced him on 64 minutes.
9 – Tomos Williams – 7
Was excellent with his box kicks and helped Wales maintain territory advantage. Some neat snipes round the blindside showed his attacking intent. Subbed for Gareth Davies late on.
1 – Nicky Smith – 6
Involved in the loose and solid enough in the scrum. A helter-skelter game meant he was largely asked to clean out rucks. Replaced by Corey Domachowski on 50 minutes.
2 – Dewi Lake – 7
After watching his team struggle for cohesion, he picked the ball up from a penalty, tapped and then bashed over the line to score himself. Made 11 tackles and 23 metres with ball in hand. Missed two line-outs in the space of a few minutes though which will be a concern moving forward. Replaced by Ryan Elias on 53 minutes.
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3 – Dillon Lewis – 6
Secure enough at set-piece. Performed his job as neeeded. Part of a quadruple change on 50 minutes when he made way for Tomas Francis.
4 – Christ Tshiunza – 8
One of Wales’ best player. Didn’t miss a tackle from 11 attempts and was a menace with ball in hand around the fringe. Showed a wonderful eye for a gap by cutting some delicious runs against the grain. A very busy afternoon. Made a strong case to start in Gatland’s best XV.
5 – Dafydd Jenkins – 6
Coughed up the pill in the tackle and lacked a bit of the needed heft in the second row. Still, was a safe pair of hands in the line-out, winning five balls from a set-piece that didn’t always function as it should. Replaced by Adam Beard on 50 minutes.
6 – Dan Lydiate – 5
Largely anonymous. Failed to exert himself on the match in either the tight or loose exchanges. Hooked for Taine Basham on 53 minutes.
7 – Jac Morgan – 9
Wasn’t supposed to play but stepped straight into the starting line-up after Tommy Reffell picked up a knock in the warm-up. Was brilliant. Some shuddering hits and neat interplay in the backline, it was his pass to Rees-Zammit before the speedy winger scored. Stole the ball when he spotted isolated runners and was busy throughout. Rightly recognised as the player of the match.
8 – Taulupe Faletau – 8
Charged over the bonus point try at the death. Made some brilliant tackles, especially a recovery hit in the first half when Portugal looked destined for the try line. A string performance from the veteran who remains a crucial cog in this Welsh machine.
Replacements:
16 – Ryan Elias – 6
Like the man he replaced, he failed to find dominance at line-out with some inaccurate throws. Busy otherwise and a force around the fringe.
17 – Corey Domachowski – 7
Solid at scrum time. Helped with a ball against the head and dominated his opposite number. Was crucial in the scrum that helped set up the bonus point try.
18 – Tomas Francis – 7
Added heft when it mattered late on. Portugal couldn’t cope with Wales’ version of the Bomb Squad.
19 – Adam Beard – 7
Improved the struggling set-piece. Put his large body around the park.
20 – Taine Basham – 6
Got stuck in when things opened up at the end. Also made all six of his tackles.
21 – Gareth Davies – 7
Injected life into the match. Was unfortunate not to get a try after running a wonderful support run for Rees-Zammit who was helped by an obstruction earlier in the move. A great cameo from the scrummage with peroxided hair.
22 – Sam Costelow – 6
Definitely brought a shape to the Welsh line that was missing before his introduction. Hardly a superstar show but did enough to see the game out.
23 – Josh Adams – 6
Couldn’t make much of an impact with only 11 minutes to play. One tackle and one run sums up his short contribution.
Rugby World Cup
Pool A
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
France
2
2
0
0
8
2
New Zealand
2
1
1
0
5
3
Italy
1
1
0
0
5
4
Uruguay
1
0
1
0
0
5
Namibia
2
0
2
0
0
Pool B
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
1
1
0
0
5
2
South Africa
1
1
0
0
4
3
Tonga
0
0
0
0
0
4
Scotland
1
0
1
0
0
5
Romania
1
0
1
0
0
Pool C
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Wales
2
2
0
0
10
2
Australia
1
1
0
0
5
3
Fiji
1
0
1
0
2
4
Georgia
1
0
1
0
0
5
Portugal
1
0
1
0
0
Pool D
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Samoa
1
1
0
0
5
2
Japan
1
1
0
0
5
3
England
1
1
0
0
4
4
Argentina
1
0
1
0
0
5
Chile
2
0
2
0
0
Comments on RugbyPass
Good on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
21 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
21 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
21 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
21 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
21 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
7 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
3 Go to comments