Gatland's men get lesson in finishing
The Rugby Paper|August 20, 2023
AS distressing dress rehearsals go, this one leaves a wishful Wales pinning their faith in the old showbiz dictum that ‘It’ll be all right on the night’.
PETER JACKSON
Gatland's men get lesson in finishing
 

The night in question, for so long a distant date on a faraway horizon, is now the next match: Fiji in Bordeaux three weeks today, a fixture guaranteed to raise anxiety levels throughout a Red Dragon brotherhood all too aware of what happened when France last hosted the World Cup.

There is a lot to be put right and precious little time in which to do it if history is not to repeat itself on the opening weekend, a match of such importance that it will either send Wales sailing off on a voyage towards the semi-finals or leave them in danger of being scuttled by the South Pacific champions as they were in Nantes 16 years ago.

Nagging questions abound, most ominously those prompted by the continuing absence of Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe. Neither has been deemed fit for action since both appeared on the same Cardiff-Ospreys stage at the end of last season, four long months ago.

Other questions will have kept the Welsh management agonising long into the night over their final 33: questions over the scrummaging amid further set-piece fractures exposed by the Boks, questions over the balance of the back row.

The faithful who keep coming in vast numbers will have gone home asking questions of their own, not least over the damaging magnitude of the result. Anyone looking at the line-ups knew a Welsh team with too many Test novices would take a beating but few feared it would be one of the most severe ever witnessed in Cardiff.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 20, 2023-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 20, 2023-Ausgabe von The Rugby Paper.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS THE RUGBY PAPERAlle anzeigen
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
The Rugby Paper

Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy

TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
South America look to keep on building
The Rugby Paper

South America look to keep on building

AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
Scarratt excited by new pathway
The Rugby Paper

Scarratt excited by new pathway

ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
Baxter: I want to make things better
The Rugby Paper

Baxter: I want to make things better

ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.

time-read
3 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
The Rugby Paper

Pearce walks in his father's footsteps

PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
New England group will cause uncertainty
The Rugby Paper

New England group will cause uncertainty

SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
Galthie turns his sights to the future
The Rugby Paper

Galthie turns his sights to the future

FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.

time-read
4 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
The Rugby Paper

Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson

CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
The Rugby Paper

Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath

BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
The Rugby Paper

New faces take the plaudits for Saints

NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.

time-read
2 Minuten  |
November 03, 2024