‘2011 misery sparked Welsh renaissance’
SAM WARBURTON says he would not change the worst moment of his career – because it helped turn Wales into serial winners.
The sight of Warburton being red-carded for a dangerous tackle in the opening minutes of the 2011 World Cup semi-final is imprinted on the memory of every Welsh fan.
The Wales captain went from the high of making what he considered one of his best tackles to the gut-wrenching low of being sent off and feeling he had let down his entire country.
Fourteen-man Wales lost to France 9-8 – their best ever chance of reaching a World Cup final blown – and Warburton, locked in a toilet cubicle, was inconsolable.
Wales have since won three Six Nations titles, two with Grand Slams, set a national record for successive wins and, albeit briefly, knocked New Zealand off top spot in the world rankings.
They are back at the World Cup with head coach Warren Gatland insisting they are “good enough” to win it.
For the now retired Warburton, the memory of 2011 still gnaws away at him, yet offer him the chance to rewrite history and he won’t take it.
“What happened that night lives with me still and I feel gutted thinking about it,” said the twotime Lions captain. “Had we managed to keep 15 on the pitch I’m pretty confident that would have been enough to get us into the final. The more time goes on, the more I look back and think, ‘Oh my goodness, what could have happened!’
“But in a weird way it helped shape the team. In the next two years we won back-to-back Six Nations titles and had 13 guys playing in the final Test for a serieswinning Lions team. I tend to think things happen for a reason and in that instance what happened was a springboard for the success which followed.
“So, no, in a strange kind of way, I wouldn’t change anything.”
A sign of how far this fanatical rugby nation has come under Gatland is that legends Jamie Roberts and Gareth Thomas are talking openly about Wales lifting the trophy.
“If I was still captain I’d certainly be aiming for a World Cup final,” said Warburton. “This team has had a great run over the last 18 months so that is where we now need to be setting our sights.
“Given what we have achieved, anything less than a final for me will be disappointing.”
For that to happen Wales must beat Australia in Pool D or, in all likelihood, get past England in the quarter-finals.
“Gats genuinely feels he’s got the best resources from a playing perspective that he’s ever had,” added Warburton. “And history shows when he has the resources he delivers.”
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