Western Mail

Chance to win have no regrets

- RUGBY WORLD CUP 2019 IN ASSOCIATIO­N WITH

the All Blacks or Australia; trying to be a bit too expansive in the way they played.

They’ve gone back to their strengths and their strengths are definitely that physicalit­y up front with driving lineouts and a strong scrum and ball carrying and beating teams far side. And a good kicking game as well.

So you’ve got to be able to handle those threats. And they’ve got a couple of pretty exciting wingers, too, who are able to cause problems.

We saw that against Japan when they did get the ball wide. So we’ve had some very, very close encounters against them in the past and I suspect Sunday will be another one.

Q: Is it fair to say your attack could have been better, particular­ly in the second half against France? WG:

It was a funny game. I think after the sending off France came off nine a little bit. And then they started to kick a lot, and tried to play a bit of territory and kick down into the 22m.. Try to slow the game down.

And that’s sometimes quite hard to get back into it and create momentum. We ended up on their goalline but unfortunat­ely had a knock on.

And then we produced an exceptiona­l scrum and obviously a pretty special moment from Tomos Williams. I thought our bench was outstandin­g.

I thought it gave us some really good energy and momentum. And that’s been really important for us the last couple of years.

Giving us some excitement and some momentum.

Q: What did you make of the picture of Jaco Peyper doing the rounds? WG:

Yes, I’ve seen that.

I don’t really know how to answer that question. He’s had his 50th cap, he’s posing with a few fans and he’s making a bit of a joke about the incident in the game.

How people interpret that is up to them. Obviously, the way things are and how PC everyone is, people like to make mountains out of molehills.

That’s how I view the situation at the moment.

Q: A new emperor is getting enthroned in Tokyo tomorrow, did you get an invite? WG:

No. I think they’re delaying that, aren’t they? Some of the roads are closed, but there must be a couple of hundred security guards around the hotel at the moment.

Q: Did that have any bearing on your late arrival tonight? WG:

They’ve closed a couple of the roads and we were just going along pretty slowly.

Our flight was delayed as well so we were late getting away from Oita. We thought we were going to be here an hour and a half ago.

Q: Is this the best chance Wales have had to win a World Cup? WG:

Possibly, I think so.

You get these opportunit­ies once in a lifetime potentiall­y and you’ve got to grab them with both hands and make the most of it.

It’s important that we prepare well this week and let the occasion take care of itself.

The motivation for staff that are leaving, and the players who may have their last opportunit­ies to leave nothing on the table and make the most of their chances.

It’s about having no regrets and that’s the message of this week.

 ?? HUW EVANS AGENCY ?? > Warren Gatland talks to the press in Tokyo yesterday
HUW EVANS AGENCY > Warren Gatland talks to the press in Tokyo yesterday
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