‘Wales forwards in best shape for Fiji’
Scotland’s Reid relishing Russia tighthead challenge
OITA, Japan, Oct 8, (RTRS): Recharged and refreshed from a long break between Rugby World Cup games, Wales’ forwards have never been more ready for battle as they gear up for their group match against Fiji on Wednesday, assistant coach Robin McBryde said.
Wales have not been in action since edging Australia in the heavyweight Pool D clash on Sept. 29 and bring a clean bill of health into the match at Oita Stadium as they look to sew up a quarter-final berth.
“We’re in a good place, obviously a 10-day break, so we’ve been able to get recharged,” forwards coach McBryde told reporters at the captain’s run on Tuesday.
“From a forwards point of view we’re in a better shape than we ever have been, really.
“Everyone’s fit and well, 18 players, ready to go. We’ve benefited from these days off and are ready for the final push in these big two games.” Victory over Fiji would guarantee a quarter-final spot, while another win against emerging rugby nation Uruguay in their final pool game on Oct. 13 would ensure they finish top of the group, securing what should be a kinder route through the quarters.
Warren Gatland’s side are not taking the Fijians lightly, however, and have made only two back row changes from the starting 15 that fended off the Wallabies 29-25.
Loose forward Ross Moriarty has been promoted from the bench and will start at number eight, while James Davies makes his World Cup debut at openside flanker in place of the rested Justin Tipuric.
Wales beat Fiji 23-13 in a pool clash four years ago in the World Cup in England but their defence was often shredded by the fast Fijian backs.
Moriarty missed that pool game but was part of the Gloucester side that mounted a terrific comeback from 18-0 down to beat a touring Fiji team 31-29 in 2012.
“I was fortunate to play for Gloucester ... against Fiji when I was about 18 which was a bit of an eyeopener,” said the 25-year-old.
“Being on this stage now is bigger. I’m just excited to get on the pitch and show everyone what I can do.” Scotland prop Gordon Reid is savouring every moment of what is likely to be his last Rugby World Cup and says he is relishing the prospect of facing a player whom coach Gregor Townsend described as one of the best tightheads at the tournament.
Reid, 32, has come off the bench in Scotland’s two previous matches in Japan but will start against Russia in Shizuoka. It is a game the Scots must win with a bonus point to give them their best chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
“Their tight head is a big strong boy and, given an opportunity, he can cause a bit of damage,” Reid said of Kirill Gotovtsev, who had Olympic ambitions as a wrestler and bobsledder before switching to rugby in 2014.
“He’s a bit like myself,” he added, pausing for comedic effect. “In stature.” Russia have proved tough to break down at the World Cup, with Ireland only securing the crucial bonus point in the final quarter of their match last Thursday.
While Scotland’s meeting with Japan in Yokohama on Sunday is likely to determine which of them goes through to the quarter-finals from Pool A, the players have been at pains to stress how important it was to focus on Wednesday’s clash with Russia.
Reid, who is behind Allan Dell in the loose head pecking order, said he has loved his time with the squad in Japan.
“I just said I wanted to go and have fun, fun in training and spend time with the boys and have a laugh and enjoy my rugby,” added Reid, who has displayed his sense of humour through his social media videos.
“Not everyone gets to experience these things and come out here. People would give their left leg, their right leg, their left everything to be over here, to be in the position we are.” There has been one aspect of Reid’s time in Japan that he has struggled with – Japanese food.
“I’ve tried sushi. It is not really agreeing with me to be honest, but I’m trying it,” he said.
“I went to the supermarket and ... saw these, you can only really describe them as meatballs, but one was purple and one was green.
“Didn’t have a clue what it was but I tried it. I’m not going to lie. It was quite good, but I don’t know what it is.” Russia’s final World Cup game against Scotland is an opportunity for the team to raise the profile and spur development of the sport back home, assistant coach Alexander Voytov said.
Russia will be the first team to wrap up their campaign in Japan after their Pool A match against the Scots, who must win in Shizuoka to remain in contention for the quarter-finals ahead of their last match with Japan on Sunday.
The Russians have lost all three of their games so far but Voytov, a former lock who played 73 matches for the ‘Bears’ and was in their 2011 World Cup squad, was hopeful their final game would be a catalyst for the sport to grow.
“We started developing rugby very fast now in Russia but we have a lack of coaches,” he told reporters in Shizuoka on Tuesday.
“Yes we invite a lot of foreign coaches but we need a lot of young Russian coaches,” added the 37-yearold, who retired from the national side in 2014.
“In our team we have a lot of players who are finishing their careers and the main thing is that when they go back to Russia and their clubs they will spread this knowledge about.
“Hopefully after the tournament some of them will become coaches because they now know how to work at the top level and what they need to achieve and can show by example.
“That will be the biggest step up for us in our development.” Russia only qualified for the World Cup after Romania, Belgium and Spain were deducted points for fielding ineligible players but they have been difficult to break down in Japan and showed they can compete at the highest level.
While all of their team play professionally – the majority in their domestic league – their tactics have been centred around a combative pack and conservative kicking game.
Voytov, however, was keen for his players to show they could play attacking, running rugby against Scotland.
“This tournament has shown that we can keep the ball but ... preparing for Scotland we have mainly focused on playing with the ball and keeping it in hand,” Voytov said.
“(Of course) we will maintain our defence and stick to our plan but try and use the ball and play a bit wider.” Inside centre Dmitry Gerasimov was glad the coaches had decided to let them loose in their final game.
“This is the World Cup and we have scored just the one try,” he said through an interpreter. “The rest of the points are penalties.
“We want to show what we believe we can do in our rugby.”