Efficient Wales will be threat – Reason

WARREN Gatland’s in-form Welsh team will be one of six major obstacles standing in the way of a third successive World Cup win for the All Blacks in Japan next year.

That’s the verdict of New Zealand rugby writer Mark Reason following an autumn series of Tests that saw Wales make history with four straight wins in November.

They accounted for South Africa and Australia last month, while Ireland’s first win over the All Blacks, in Dublin, helped put northern hemisphere rugby in a good place heading to the land of the rising sun next year.

And should Wales beat Australia in Pool D next autumn they would escape a potentially hazardous route through to the final.

But defeat to the Wallabies would likely mean a quarter-final date England and a meeting with New Zealand in the last four, should they beat the 2003 winners.

Englishman Reason, now based in New Zealand, believes Wales alongside Ireland, South Africa, England, Australia and referees, provide the main threat to Steve Hansen’s side sweeping up a third Webb Ellis Trophy on the trot.

Writing for Stuff.NZ, he said: “Every now and again a nation from the northern hemisphere would rise up, but it was soon put in its place again, somewhere near the sole of the All Blacks’ shoe.

“The mighty Six Nations may be the world’s best rugby competition, but they have one piffling World Cup between them.

“Two years ago we were all wondering who would finish second in Japan. New Zealand’s superiority was overwhelming. But it has dwindled.

“The Lions tour took a chunk out of them. Erratic selection and muddled coaching have further diminished a team that should still be quite dominant given its player resources.

“World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot recently protested the number of mercenary players who had switched their country of allegiance. Argentina and South Africa had none, but the rest were peppered with them.

“Perhaps Pichot should have brought coaches into that mix.

“Would Ireland be where they are now without Joe Schmidt?

“Wales have Warren Gatland in charge, plus Kiwis at 10 and 12.

“Wales are now super-efficient with Gareth Anscombe at 10. Remember him? He played there when New Zealand won the 2011 Junior World Cup with Beauden Barrett at 15.

“Wales have a strong pack, a very good No.9, accurate goal kicking and a magnificent defence. They will be very hard to beat.”