‘Celebrations are on hold’

– Wales won’t be celebrating anything until they win the World Cup, rising star Aaron Wainwright (above) said yesterday after playing a key role in the team’s run to the semifinals.

The flanker’s first try for Wales helped them fight back from 12-0 down to complete a dramatic 2019 quarter-final win and set up a last-four clash with two-time champions South Africa in Yokohama on Sunday.

He was also instrumental in a key part of the game, as France were reduced to 14 men after lock Sebastien Vahaamahina was sent off for elbowing him in the face.

But he followed the lead of captain Alun Wyn Jones in insisting the champagne would stay on ice despite reaching the semifinals for the first time since losing to France in 2011.

“There is no celebration yet as Alun Wyn said,” Wainwright told reporters.

“We haven’t got the job done. The celebrations will come after we come away with the trophy.”

France were on top at 19-10 in Oita on Sunday when Vahaamahina’s moment of madness left Les Bleus a man down with more than half-an-hour to play.

Wales took until six minutes from the end to edge ahead for the only time when replacement forward Ross Moriarty’s converted try gave them a one-point lead.

Recalling the incident that eventually saw South African referee Jaco Peyper show Vahaamahina a red card, Wainwright said: “It was a maul, and he had me by the neck to start with.

“I was trying to get the referee’s attention, and then the elbow came in.” – AFP