Makeshift Wales wrap up top spot
THIS win over Uruguay was not pretty, as Wales head coach Warren Gatland freely admitted after watching his team belatedly wrap up a bonus-point victory, but the focus has always really been on what comes next for Wales.
“Alun Wyn Jones probably said the best thing when he told the players, ‘We’ve got 240 minutes left to achieve something special’. For us, that’s something to really focus on,” Gatland said. “We’ve been pleased with what we’ve achieved in the last couple of years, especially in games that have mattered, and competition games.”
The less said about the win over Uruguay the better. Leigh Halfpenny was named player of the match and pressed his claims to be involved off the bench in Sunday’s quarter-final against France, but there were few other standout contenders to give Gatland many selection headaches.
Wales made remarkably hard work of what should have been a routine result, coughing up knock-ons and penalties on their way to a win that was only truly in the bank after 73 minutes.
Tries from Nicky Smith, Josh Adams, Tomos Williams and Gareth Davies, Wales’ No 1 scrum-half who came off the bench as a winger late on, plus a penalty try, ensured that Wales won with a bonus-point to finish top of Pool D ahead of Australia. But it was some slog to get to that outcome.
Handling errors should have been expected, given that there were 13 changes to the side who defeated Fiji on Wednesday, the most Wales have made at a World Cup. Yet the sense early on was that once Gatland’s team had shaken off that rust, giving up four turnovers in the first 10 minutes, Uruguay were there for the taking.
Except it took Wales an age to recognise that themselves, still losing the ball all too easily late into the second half as Uruguay, to their credit, grew in confidence. Based on Gatland’s body language he was far from impressed. Wales in the end conceded 19 turnovers to Uruguay’s 11.
“It wasn’t the prettiest performance today but we dug in and some quality came off the bench and the scoreline probably reflected the difference between the two teams,” Gatland admitted. “But I have to tip my hat to Uruguay, they were tenacious. It was a tough game to dominate.”
Scan
At least there is better news for Wales on the injury front, with a scan on Jonathan Davies’s knee coming back clear. George North’s ankle knock is not a concern, while Dan Biggar is also improving after being seen by an independent consultant following his second concussion of the tournament against Fiji. “They’re pleased with the progress he’s making so hopefully he’ll be fine,” Gatland added.
Which leaves Wales with a healthy squad. “Going into the quarter-final knowing you’ve got 31 players fit and training puts us in a pretty healthy position,” Gatland said. “We have a pretty good record against France, but they are a tournament team, people write them off and then they produce a performance no one expects.
“We know how hard it will be, they have quality individuals and seem to thrive in quarter-finals and semi-finals. It will be tough but we will thrive on that.
“From a coaching and playing perspective these opportunities can change people’s lives. I know the players will give it everything.” (© Daily Telegraph, London)