British media hail Wales for delivering on World Cup promise
CARDIFF: British press on Sunday hailed a youthful Wales rugby team for delivering on their World Cup promise with a third Six Nations Grand Slam in eight years.
Wales saw off France 16-9 in their final match of the championship to add to victories over Ireland (23-21), Scotland (27-13), England (19-12) and Italy (24-3).
While some of the rugby played was not always attractive, the Welsh team showed a hard–nosed side willing to dog it out and, if needs be, win ugly, an ethos installed by coach Warren Gatland, who took over after the 2007 World Cup.
Former Wales captain Eddie Butler said this Grand Slam was worth more than the ones in 2008 and 2005 because those two had come “out of the blue“.
“This was the first of the batch that was plotted, planned to the last detail. The first bespoke Grand Slam,” Butler wrote in The Observer.
“This was the World Cup dream... come true in the Six Nations, the leap forward from the promise shown in New Zealand to delivery in the old championship.”
Wales made the semi–final of the World Cup, where they lost to France, who went on to lose to hosts New Zealand in the final.
Respected coach Dean Ryan said the challenge for Wales would be to “build on this” Grand Slam.
“They are a young enough side to do so,” Ryan said. “Dan Lydiate was immense. He is building block of the Welsh pack and allows Sam Warburton and Toby Faletau to play around him.
“Rhys Priestland was another important figure for Wales. I was critical of him after the England game but against France both he and Mike Phillips produced the right balance at half-back.”
The Wales on Sunday’s front-page title read “Slam-azing!”, “Nation hails Gatland’s heroes“.
Columnist Barry John, the former Wales and British Lions fly-half, said that despite Wales being young and “still somewhat inexperienced“, they are “perfectly suited for the modern-day game“.
“They were patient, went through the phases, showed composure and were magnificent towards the end in the way they ran down the clock by keeping the ball at close quarters or choosing to kick behind the French and put them under pressure,” John said.
He added that the Grand Slam was a perfect send–off for Mervyn Davies, the legendary Wales No 8 who died on Thursday.
“Wales, fantastic Wales, gave Mervyn Davies a send off which I promise you the great man would have been thrilled with.”
Stuart Barnes, writing in The Sunday Times, maligned the fact that “a little part of the nation’s sporting soul has been sacrificed in the search for success”.
“Again Cardiff celebrated a Grand Slam but not, this time, a grand performance,” the former Bath and England playmaker said.
“This was a victory for controlled planning, it was as far removed from Welsh rugby heritage as is possible.
“Gatland and Shaun Edwards have taken them far from the old Welsh ways; to a degree they had to. The game is too brutal for any side to overload with delicate artists.
“But Welsh rugby instinct is too strong to pay complete homage to the mantra that big is beautiful. It sufficed on Saturday.
“The team deserve their celebration. They are Europe’s finest but they are nowhere near being world-class.”