Rugby World Cup 2023: Marseille misery for Wales as tournament dream ends
- Published
Dan Bigger holds his head in a hand as dejected Wales leave the field in Marseille
Warren Gatland had said his Wales squad were not ready to go home from France.
Unfortunately for the Wales head coach and his players, that is exactly what will happen on Monday when they pack up at their Toulon base after they were knocked out of the World Cup quarter-finals by Argentina in Marseille.
It will be the Pumas that head to Paris to face New Zealand on Friday in the first semi-final, while Wales fans work out how to return home rather than spend two more weeks in the French capital.
We arrived in France at the beginning of September wondering how long Wales would remain in the country.
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar - who will now retire from Test rugby - wowing the locals by speaking fluent French at the welcome ceremony in Versailles seems a lifetime ago.
The trip was longer than many feared but in the space of a couple of hours on a remarkable October evening, the journey was brought to a shuddering halt.
Wales will reflect on what might have been, with Gatland saying his side missed an opportunity to reach a third World Cup semi-final in four tournaments.
This quarter-final exit will rankle because Wales had opportunities to defeat the Pumas, even if a semi-final against New Zealand - conquerors of Ireland, who will have their own regrets - might have been a step too far.
The loss signalled an end to Wales' own tour de France with the six-week magical mystery trip taking in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Nantes before the marvellous Marseille night for Argentina, who were cheered on by their passionate fans.
So what progress has been made and what does the future holds for Wales and Gatland?
Gatland effect
Warren Gatland has been head coach of the British and Irish Lions on three occasions
It is worth remembering Wales were ranked 10th in the world before this tournament started. Gatland returned for his second stint as head coach when he replaced Wayne Pivac in December 2022, but only managed one win in the 2023 Six Nations where players threatened to strike over contractual issues.
It was grim. Gatland galvanised the squad with tough training camps in Switzerland and Turkey and predicted Wales would "surprise people" and achieve "something special" at this World Cup.
In some ways, he was proved correct on both counts. They surprised many by winning their pool with victories over Fiji, Portugal, Australia and Georgia, as Gatland guided Wales to a fourth successive World Cup quarter-final under him and the record 40-6 win over the woeful Wallabies in Lyon was certainly special.
Those achievements created hope and even expectation of a semi-final spot which they could not quite deliver.
Gatland turned 60 during the tournament but has stated he wishes to take the team towards the 2027 World Cup after helping restore pride in the Wales squad.
"I'm incredibly proud of the work these players and whole staff have put in, they've been absolutely fantastic," said Gatland.
"We've made some good strides. We need to continue on that path. We don't want to be going backwards. That's a challenge for us to accept and make sure we continue improving.
"There were a lot of people writing us off before this tournament, saying we wouldn't get out of our group.
"That was the first thing, to ensure we'd done that. This group of players have worked incredibly hard to get what they've achieved.
"The players should hold their heads up and be proud, but we've got to make sure we continue to grow as a team."
Nobody should underestimate the despair those Wales players felt after the defeat by the Pumas as co-captain Dewi Lake summed up the mood.
"Emotions go up and down but it's tough to take," said the hooker.
"We will learn from this and a lot of boys are at their first World Cup.
"You don't learn a lot from winning constantly. Learning comes from losing games and seeing where you can get better and where you went wrong.
"These are the type of games that build character. A loss in a World Cup quarter-final with tears streaming down your face afterwards, that's a feeling you never want again. We will kick on from here."
Generation game
'I haven't done too bad over 15 years' - Biggar
The transition from losing the older generation began before the tournament with the international retirements of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb, and injury to 2023 Six Nations skipper Ken Owens.
Wales will have to cope with losing more experience after this tournament with Taulupe Faletau, Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Lydiate, Liam Williams, George North, Gareth Davies, Tomas Francis and Gareth Anscombe unlikely to feature at the next World Cup.
Fly-half Biggar has definitely played his last game in the red jersey, calling time on a Wales career that featured 112 matches.
Biggar, who turns 34 on Monday, will stay in the south of France as he continues his club career with Toulon.
As he strolled around the stadium on Saturday night alongside his two young children, it would have dawned on him this chapter of his life was over.
"Dan has been a great servant for Welsh rugby," said Gatland.
"He's been through some incredible highs and lows as well. For a youngster to have come into the side and matured and developed as a player, that's been special.
"He's so competitive. He wants to win and wears his heart on his sleeve. That's been one of his big accolades he's brought to this team."
Fly-half void, young guns emerge
Jac Morgan consoles Sam Costelow (right) after Wales' World Cup quarter-final defeat against Argentina
With Anscombe unavailable for next year's Six Nations because of his club move to Japan, Wales are searching for a new number 10 with Sam Costelow the first-choice candidate.
"We're excited about Sam and feel he's going to be a little bit special going forward," said Gatland.
"He's still got a lot of growth in his game."
Costelow, 22, was reminded of the harsh realities of international rugby on Saturday when his pass was intercepted by Nicolas Sanchez, who sprinted away to score and clinch victory for Argentina.
"That's a huge learning moment for him," said Gatland.
"I don't want him to be too disappointed or get upset about that. Those things can happen to any player, whether you're older or younger.
"I don't want him to dwell on it, I want him to move on from that, thinking about what sort of impact he'll have on this team."
Costelow typifies the next generation of young Wales players such as co-captains Jac Morgan and Lake, Louis Rees-Zammit, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Rio Dyer, Mason Grady and Tommy Reffell.
Flanker Morgan has proved one of the tournament stars, while wing Rees-Zammit was the only Wales player to start five matches and scored five tries, including a hat-trick against Georgia. They are 23 and 22 respectively.
Gatland decided to hand the captaincy to Lake and Morgan, and British and Irish Lions wing Josh Adams believes that proved a masterstroke.
"We have two young captains in Dewi and Jac, they have led us incredibly well and been a huge voice," said Adams.
"I have enjoyed playing under them and for those two especially, there are massive careers ahead.
"They will no doubt be in the next four-year cycle and will be massive figureheads for a lot of young lads in this team. I'm sure they will drive the standards even higher."
Wales captain Jac Morgan (left) talks to English referee Karl Dickson (right) with Nick Tompkins watching on during the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Argentina
Feelgood factor returns
Argentina's raucous fans created an incredible atmosphere in the Stade de Marseille that helped inspire their team.
It was perhaps more reminiscent of a World Cup football match, and people lucky enough to witness the stunning sight and sounds within that stadium will not forget that epic experience in a hurry.
The Wales fans have enjoyed their own World Cup odyssey and created their own memories. There has been a sea of red in each city where Wales have played, with choirs performing in open spaces before matches to provide a unique Welsh soundtrack to this tournament.
"The support we have had has been overwhelming," said Adams.
"When we leave the hotels to get on the team bus and when we get back from matches, the support from family, friends, children and wives has been amazing.
"The fans have also been incredible. It does not go unnoticed, they graft hard during the week and spend their own money to come out here as supporters and we know it is not cheap. I hope we have done them proud."
What this World Cup class of 2023 has managed to do over the last couple of months is restore some credibility and optimism within Welsh rugby.
It has been a desperate couple of years and the financial problems and challenges facing the professional sides remain, with the United Rugby Championship season starting next weekend.
As Wales look to next season's Six Nations and further afield to the 2027 World Cup in Australia, what has happened in the past six weeks in France must act as an example of what can be achieved.
The initial reflections, though, will remain of what might have been because Wales are now reluctantly heading home.
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