Rugby World Cup 2023: The best and the worst for Wales
- Published
Wales have reached the quarter-finals of the last four World Cup tournaments
World Cup campaigns are rarely smooth running for Wales and the 2023 edition has been no different.
The tournament in France brought highs and lows: from the thrill of thrashing Australia, to late drama against Fiji and Portugal before heartache against Argentina.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has said it will ultimately be regarded as a missed opportunity.
So we look back at the moments that stood out - the good and the bad.
Best individual performance - Jac Morgan v Fiji
Gareth Anscombe's 23-point display off the bench against Australia and Louis Rees-Zammit's hat-trick against Georgia were notable.
But this was the game that announced the new Wales captain on the world stage.
Jac Morgan proved he could not only do the hard work, but had a remarkable range of skills.
Not only did the flanker contribute a huge 21 tackles to a World Cup record defensive display, he carried the ball more than any other Welsh forward - and set up a try with an audacious cross-field kick.
There were plenty of impressive displays off the field, such as Dan Biggar's welcome speech delivered entirely in French and the Welsh fans' flash mob in Nice.
Best try - Gareth Davies v Australia
There were 19 tries in total for Wales - matching the tally at the same stage of the previous World Cup in 2019.
Taulupe Faletau's barnstorming solo effort to rescue a bonus point in the final seconds against Portugal was significant, while Rees-Zammit's third against Georgia, from Liam Williams' almost casual cross-field kick, oozed class.
Only Shane Williams has scored more World Cup tries for Wales than Gareth Davies
However, Gareth Davies' opening score against Australia was surely the pick of the bunch and looked as good on the pitch as when attack coach Alex King drew it on his whiteboard.
Aaron Wainwright won a lineout just inside the Wallabies' half. The ball moved along the line until Nick Tompkins knew exactly when to release Morgan at full speed with an inside pass.
Morgan was flying, outpacing Australia's Ben Donaldson before handing Davies a straight run between the posts. Poetry in motion.
Landmarks
Adam Beard won his 50th cap, Warren Gatland turned 60, Dan Biggar became the first Wales player to score 100 World Cup points and George North appeared in a fourth quarter-final.
Unsung hero - Will Rowlands
Second rows rarely get the plaudits, but assistant coach John Humphreys was keen to stress what a leader Will Rowlands has become for Wales.
Wales missed the then Dragons lock during the Six Nations as he recovered from a serious knee injury.
Wales made 837 tackles in five games - no other team has more than 700
He returned for the summer Tests and reasserted himself as a mainstay in the Welsh boiler room and the bulwark of the Welsh defence.
Only one player in the entire tournament made more tackles than Rowlands (65) and he was a major part as Wales set a World Cup record of 237 tackles in a single game against Fiji.
No wonder Gatland was eager for him to pass the new 25-cap eligibility rule before joining Racing 92 this coming season.
Moment to forget - Johnny Williams' yellow card
The Scarlets centre had a chance to stake a claim to a starting place when he was selected to face Portugal.
However, he was shown a needless yellow card for a cynical foul - when Wales were ahead - and did not play again in the World Cup.
Wing Louis Rees-Zammit was among several Wales players with peeling numbers against Argentina
The person responsible for sticking numbers to the back of the Wales jerseys for the quarter-final may also need to reflect on a job not so well done.
Rising Star - Dafydd Jenkins
Rio Dyer brought excitement whenever he touched the ball, while Christ Tshiunza will not have harmed his prospects in the few opportunities he was given at the tournament.
Outside-half Sam Costelow has also been tipped as a future star by Gatland, particularly with his showing against Georgia, and he will learn from the game against Argentina.
Future stars? Mason Grady, Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza
However, Dafydd Jenkins stands out here. Jenkins is showing he has all the attributes for Test rugby, along with a gritty edge and a rugby brain that belies his youth.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter would not have given the 20-year-old lock captaincy experience at the English Premiership club if he did not see something special.
Biggest disappointment - Marseille
It had started so well with 10 points from Biggar, but Wales lost all control of their quarter-final against Argentina during a half-hour period either side of half-time.
Everything good about the pool stages - defence, discipline, ruthlessness - deserted them in Marseille when they needed it most.
Biggest loss - Dan Biggar
Dan Biggar has retired from Test rugby following the World Cup
The changing of the guard began earlier this year with the retirements of Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb and Ken Owens.
But it will gather pace following France 2023 with doubts over the futures of Liam Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Lydiate, Gareth Davies and Tomas Francis.
However, the biggest loss is possibly the retirement of Biggar, given the leadership and drive he gives the team in such a crucial position - as well as his kicking.
The figures speak for themselves - Wales' fourth highest points scorer (633) and fourth highest cap holder (112) - Biggar has dominated the jersey for a decade.
Limping out of a quarter-final defeat was a tough way to go, but Wales must now find a new number 10.
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