ROBERTS INSPIRED BY WELSH WARRIORS
AN hour after Wales’ World Cup campaign had been ended, despite an epic exhibition of gallantry at Twickenham, a tearful Jamie Roberts insisted there were ‘no regrets’. Yet Warren Gatland and his heroic squad had every reason to wonder what might have been if cruel sporting fate had not deprived them of so many leading backs, including Leigh Halfpenny and Jonathan Davies. They also found themselves on the wrong side of just about every marginal decision by referee Wayne Barnes. But Wales accepted the cards they were dealt and lost with heads held high. Captain Sam Warburton once again demonstrated his qualities, leading the Herculean defensive effort on the field and showcasing his class off it. Roberts was another of the titans in a losing cause. ‘The guys putting their bodies on the line was amazing to watch,’ said the centre. ‘To see your players launching their bodies and sacrificing their health for the sake of the team and the country is inspiring.’ England may well come calling for Gatland and defence coach Shaun Edwards if Stuart Lancaster goes, but the Wales players expressed a firm desire to maintain their managerial status quo. Roberts said: ‘I hope the coaching team stay together. It’s a great mix of characters and styles.’ Wales rightly led 13-12 at half-time after showing the greater intent and invention, with Dan Biggar’s high kick, re-take and late pass sending Gareth Davies over for another try in a impressive campaign for the Welsh duo. But after the break they were increasingly hanging on against a Springbok onslaught. Warburton and his back-row colleagues, Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau, were magnificent stopping waves of South African carriers but Heyneke Meyer’s side just kept pounding away. Schalk Burger was relentless while No 8 Duane Vermeulen showed great awareness to pick out Fourie du Preez’s blindside run with a deft backhand offload to tee up the 74th-minute try which sealed Wales’ demise.