Wales fearing the deadliest group of death
The air of trepidation among Wales players at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday was in stark contrast to the mood in Australia.
hours before Warren Gatland’s misfiring side were completely outplayed 35-21 by Ireland, the Wallabies delivered a powerful message to their World Cup Pool A rivals with a deserved 27-19 victory over New Zealand.
The Group of Death — which includes england as well — suddenly looked even more deadly and Gatland revealed that his side’s ‘disappointing’ defeat would have a ‘huge’ impact when he drops up to 10 players from his squad at the end of the week.
Two late Welsh tries distorted the scoreline in Cardiff as the hosts were exposed for their lack of squad depth and shortage of skills-based training at recent boot camps in Switzerland and Qatar. They will improve, but those who spoke to the media shared a view on the squad cull that was far more cohesive than their performance.
Flanker Justin Tipuric, one of a small handful of standout players, revealed that ‘everyone is nervous’, while lock Jake Ball described it as an ‘anxious period’ for those who have not yet cemented t heir position in t he 31-man squad.
Ball said: ‘Ill-discipline and individual error cost us. Some of the breakdown work was pretty poor and they capitalised on our errors. There are a couple of things we need to go back and look at.’ he reserved his highest praise for Tipuric, who has been a fringe player under Gatland because of the presence of openside flanker Sam Warburton.
Australia coach Michael Cheika has a similar dilemma with Michael hooper and David Pocock, but the Wallaby coach pulled off a masterstroke against the All Blacks by starting both in a new-look back row — a move that could tempt Gatland to use both Warburton and Tipuric.
‘Tips is a world-class player,’ said Ball. ‘I think some of his ball - carrying skill s are fantastic — it’s like having an extra back in the team.’
In the back line, young fullback hallam Amos improved as the game went on, with debutants Ross Moriarty and Tyler Morgan also showing glimpses of potential in the new Welsh jersey, which is a staggering £40 cheaper than the latest england kit.
Wales’s veteran half-back combination of Mike Phillips and James hook looked past their best, but 24-year- old Gareth Anscombe added structure when he took over the No 10 jersey in the second half, making his Test debut after turning his back on a potential career with the All Blacks.
Anscombe moved to Cardiff last year and is eligible for selection through his Welsh mother, who was part of the sell- out 74,500 crowd left feeling slightly let down by the half-baked warm-up Test.
‘My family were here with some cousins and distant relatives as well, so it was great to have that support,’ said Anscombe, 24.
‘Once you have a taste, you want more and we all know what the end goal is. I’d love to be a part of it.
‘It was about time something like that happened because t he Wallabies have been sniffing for a few years now.
‘I didn’t see all the game, but the Wallabies will be a real force come World Cup time. The two teams that make it out of our pool will be well prepared come the knockout stages.’
Australia’s win over New Zealand was not the only upset of the weekend. South Africa suffered their first defeat by Argentina, with skipper Jean de Villiers left sidelined for up to six weeks with a fractured jaw. england play France at Twickenham on Saturday in a World Cup warm-up match but the visitors will be without captain Thierry Dusautoir, who is injured.