Wales set to sharpen up for World Cup with a double against England
WALES will face England not once, but TWICE, in warmup matches ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
Warren Gatland’s men will clash with Eddie Jones at Twickenham and the Principality Stadium in a carboncopy of their run-in to the 2011 tournament.
And the build-up Wales had six years ago helped get them ready for a World Cup in New Zealand which saw them reach the semi-finals, losing 9-8 to France in Auckland following the sending-off of then captain Sam Warburton, and finish fourth after losing the bronze medal play-off against Australia.
The losing warm-up with England at Twickenham saw the emergence of Rhys Priestland as Wales’ World Cup play-maker and wing Morgan Stoddart suffer an horrific leg break, which was to eventually end his playing career.
Wales won the rematch in Cardiff, but that also came at a price with 2008 and 2005 Six Nations Grand Slam hero Gavin Henson seeing his dream of appearing in a World Cup finish when he broke an arm.
The deal with England, which is likely to be a multi-million pound money-spinner for the Welsh Rugby Union, was struck by then chief executive Roger Lewis in 2015.
And the 2019 matches – Wales are also expected to face Ireland – will provide Gatland charges with the best possible preparation for their Japan mission.
Wales have drawn a favourable pool at the World Cup, featuring in a group with Australia, Georgia, Oceania 1 and Americas 2. Those latter two teams could turn out to be Fiji and Canada, based on current rankings and possible qualifying results.
The World Cup is taking place between September 20 and November 2 ,so Wales’ warm-up fixtures are likely to take place at the back-end of August and the early part of September in 2019.
“We are pretty happy with the draw. Every group is always going to have some tough teams, but from a Welsh perspective you’ve got to be happy with how it has turned out. It’s better than last time!” said Gatland.
Wales were in a so-called group of death with Australia, hosts England and Fiji at the 2015 World Cup, which meant they couldn’t play the Red Rose in warm-up games.
Instead, they faced Joe Schmidt’s Ireland twice, losing in Cardiff but winning the return in Dublin, and beating Italy in the Welsh capital.
However, that final warm-up game came at a high price with Wales losing scrum-half catalyst Rhys Webb (foot) and goal-kicking machine Leigh Halfpenny (knee) to serious injury.
The pair both missed the 2015 World Cup and Wales were unable to repeat their 2011 heroics despite pipping England at the group stage with an astonishing second-half comeback.
But they lost to Australia, despite the Wallabies being down to 13 men at one point, and went out narrowly against South Africa at Twickenham in their quarter-final.
Wales haven’t lifted any silverware since being crowned Six Nations champions in 2013 and this year came fifth – their worst finish of the Gatland and Rob Howley era, which started in 2008.
But Gatland was upbeat about Wales’ future under him – he intends to leave his post when his contract ends following the 2019 World Cup – despite a traumatic Six Nations under Howley’s command.
“If you look at the age profile of our squad, we picked a number of young players quite a few years ago who could go on to 2019,” said Gatland, who is on a sabbatical with the Lions,
“We’re lucky because we’ve got a significant amount of experience. We are pretty excited about 2019 and putting Japan to the forefront of world rugby.”
Ironically, Wales face Australia and Georgia in November’s autumn Test series, with back-to-back World Cup holders New Zealand and South Africa their other opponents.
But, before then, Wales, without their Lions, face Tonga, in Auckland, and Samoa in Apia next month in what is a tough assignment for a largely inexperienced pack and back-three.
Wales head to Latin America in June next year for a Test series with Argentina, who have made rapid progress since facing the Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks in the Rugby Championship and are further benefiting from the entry of the Jaguares to the Super Rugby tournament.
Gatland’s final autumn campaign in charge of Wales will see him sign off against Australia, South Africa and a Tier Two nation, with New Zealand favoured opponents for a fourth international.