Rugby World Cup: Wales deserve huge credit as they head to quarter-finals in Marseille
- Published
Wales enjoyed a record winning margin against Australia in Lyon
Four wins. 19 out of 20 points. Victors of Pool C. Wales' facts and figures in the 2023 World Cup could not be much more impressive.
The 43-19 victory over Georgia was a third bonus-point win as Warren Gatland's side topped the pool while a quarter-final place was secured one game inside the distance.
It highlights how dominant Gatland's team have been. Wales' World Cup form has proved a far cry from the misery of last season's Six Nations, when they only avoided the wooden spoon by beating Italy in Rome.
Wales will now face Argentina or Japan in Marseille next Saturday with the two sides facing each other in a Pool D runners-up decider in Nantes on Sunday.
There were doubts whether Wales even would progress from a pool that also included Australia, Fiji and Georgia. Given their struggles of earlier in the year, few could have expected this remarkable revival.
The Gatland effect
Warren Gatland has won three Grand Slams with Wales
When Gatland replaced Wayne Pivac and returned for a second stint as Wales head coach in December 2022 - his first was laden with Six Nations titles, Grand Slams and World Cup consistency - he took charge at a time when results had dropped through the floor and confidence plummeted.
The Six Nations played out against a back-drop of financial concerns in Welsh professional rugby and contractual worries for players, with strike action only averted just days before Wales met England in Cardiff.
But after an uninterrupted World Cup preparation period that started in late May, Gatland has moulded a squad that is in contention for a third semi-final appearance during the last four global tournaments, underlining his status among the game's finest coaches of any era.
Gatland has now led Wales to four successive quarter-finals and boasts a remarkable pool record of 14 wins in 16 games.
The only two defeats came against South Africa in 2011 in Wellington, when a James Hook penalty kick was controversially not awarded, and Australia at Twickenham four years later.
Wales have won their last eight pool matches after finishing unbeaten and winning the pool in both 2019 and 2023.
"We won a pool in 2019 so to repeat that from where we were is a lot of credit to the players and the work they've put in with the coaches and support staff," said Gatland.
"I think we can be pretty proud of what we've done as a nation in the last four World Cups.
"We've won 14 out of 16 games in our pool. The very first one was against South Africa when we lost by a point. We still dispute whether that kick by James Hook was over.
"Then we lost a tight one against Australia in 2015. We probably should have put that game away."
Not enough credit
Wales and Fiji players shake hands after their opening Pool C game in Bordeaux
There have been constant themes in Gatland's public and private messaging from even before the tournament started.
It has been doubling down on predictions Wales would "surprise people" and do "something special" in this tournament and emphasising how hard the players have worked in pre-season camps in Switzerland and Turkey.
The most obvious recurring message has been the statement Wales did not feel they were given enough credit for the opening 32-26 win over Fiji and the 28-8 victory over Portugal with a much-changed side.
Players and coaches have lined up to repeat this message with it being mentioned in most press conferences, so obviously a popular opinion that has been shared around the squad.
"As a group of players, we should be proud of what we've achieved," said Gatland.
"A big part of that is when we've been together as a group, the preparation time and the hard work has helped us in preparation for World Cups.
"We knew last week we were in the quarter-finals. That probably made today a bit of a challenge because, even though we've had the training, there wasn't that edge that there was for Fiji or Australia.
"But it was enough to get the job done. Sometimes that's where you see the progress of teams.
"We can go away knowing it was a little bit ugly at times and we were under pressure, but we got the job done."
Counting the cost
Taulupe Faletau had started all four of Wales' World Cup matches in France
Victory against Georgia came at a cost though. Wales had been doing so well on the fitness front before the Georgia game with very few injuries as only Henry Thomas and Tommy Reffell initially missed pool matches because of minor knocks.
That was before the injury nightmare of Nantes. Number eight Taulupe Faletau was ruled out of the tournament with a broken arm after starting his fourth successive World Cup game, while fly-half Gareth Anscombe is an injury doubt for the rest of the World Cup after suffering a groin injury in the warm-up.
Full-back Liam Williams also left the stadium on crutches after suffering a knee injury and is a doubt for the quarter-finals next weekend.
"I think I spoke about before the game about having a full bill of health with 33 hopefully fully fit," said Gatland.
"We lose Gareth in the warm-up and then Faletau which is disappointing. But we're probably in a better position than we have been in the past.
"That's a key for us, trying to keep the players as fit as we can and not pick up too many injuries. It's the same for every team.
"We've seen a lot of teams pick up injuries. Fingers crossed we don't pick up too many more."
Louis Rees-Zammit says Wales can step up another gear as they progress to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Gatland has managed to rotate the squad with everybody in the 33-man party having been involved, while only Thomas, Corey Domochaowski, Elliot Dee and Taine Basham did not start any of the pool matches.
Gatland has managed to establish a settled side after starting the same team in the victories against Fiji and Australia, while also making 12 changes against Portugal.
Wing Louis Rees-Zammit has scored five tries after starting all four games, while flanker Jac Morgan has been a revelation in his co-captaincy role he holds with Dewi Lake.
Morgan has been one of the stars of the World Cup pool stages having played every minute of the first three matches before being given a rest for the Georgia game.
Reffell stepped into the number seven role in Nantes and produced a player-of-the-match performance and will be a candidate to try and fill Faletau's absence in a rejigged back row.
Japan or Argentina?
Argentina coach Michael Cheika and Japan boss Jamie Joseph are playing for a quarter-final spot.
Wales' World Cup record against potential quarter-finalists Argentina and Japan is strong - played five, won five.
While Wales got the job done early in terms of progressing from their group, a race for runners-up spot in Pool D will come down to an eliminator between Argentina and Japan on Sunday.
The Pumas have proved underwhelming so far, losing comprehensively to 14-man England, before edging out Samoa and then providing only glimpses of form when they eased past minnows Chile.
Japan have set up an intriguing encounter in Nantes for the right to face Gatland's team at Stade Velodrome next weekend.
"Tomorrow's game will be a close game," said Gatland.
"Argentina and Japan have different styles. We'll watch that game tomorrow. We go back to Paris this evening. The boys have a day off tomorrow, some recovery, then we head to Marseille on Monday."