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Francis gunning for England revenge - 'Next weekend is a huge opportunity'
Tomas Francis says Wales will target improvements in every area of their game as they prepare for a quickfire return Test match against England.
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Wales’ opening World Cup warm-up clash ended in a 33-19 defeat at Twickenham. To make matters far worse, fly-half Gareth Anscombe suffered a serious knee ligament injury that has ruled him out of the tournament in Japan.
Anscombe joined No8 Taulupe Faletau (broken collarbone) in being sidelined from the competition, dealing Wales a second major injury blow in the space of 11 days.
But World Cup preparations continue at pace, with England arriving in Cardiff on Saturday and looking to inflict a first home defeat on Wales since they were beaten by New Zealand in November 2017.
Wales have reeled off 10 successive victories at the Principality Stadium since then, although their overall record 14-Test unbeaten run and hopes of becoming world rugby’s number one-ranked nation ended in south-west London.
Wales set sights on second meeting with England in the space of six days ??? Ry'n ni'n dychwelyd i @principalitysta am y tro cyntaf ers y Gamp Lawn dydd Sadwrn yma.
? – https://t.co/VJ1wYb17VY pic.twitter.com/flrzPYEjUl
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) August 12, 2019
“In the past 18 months, we’ve made very few unforced errors in this team and stuck to our processes,” said Wales and Exeter prop Francis. “(On Sunday), we either scored or dropped the ball, and we will go back and work on that. It’s stuff we can work on and fix.
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“Every area of our game is an area for improvement after Sunday, and that includes the scrum and lineout. England got the better of us as a pack, and if we are going to win the World Cup we are going to have to improve on those areas.
“In the first half we weren’t good enough, and we know that. Now, it’s about how we react and move forward. It’s an opportunity gone to assert our dominance, but we have a chance to do that on Saturday. Next weekend is a huge opportunity for us as a squad.”
Reflecting on the world rankings scenario, Francis added: “Would it have been nice to be number one? Yes. But does it matter at this point? Not really.
A fully-loaded Wales side failed to conquer an inexperienced England unit, but @OwainJTJones believes there were crumbs of comfort ahead of next Saturday's Cardiff rematchhttps://t.co/X2syFLCdKD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2019
“It was nice to have a run of winning games, but that doesn’t matter now, and being at the top in six weeks or so is the aim. It’s where you finish in the tournament (World Cup) that counts.
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“You always know that in your first Test match for a while it’s always going to be very physical. The first game of your pre-season is always very tough, and I guess we got caught a little cold.”
– Press Association
WATCH: Wales coach Warren Gatland and captain Alun Wyn Jones speak to the press following last Sunday’s defeat to England
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments