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.
This story is from the August 20, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 20, 2023 edition of The Rugby Paper.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Unbeaten Lymm put the Tykes on a leash
LYMM maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign, taking the major scalp of Leeds Tykes and ending the visitors' unblemished start.
Dramatic late win boosts leaders
A LAST-minute converted try saw Tonbridge Juddians snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at Barnes.
England need to be more consistent
I WAS at last week's game against the All Blacks and as much as I enjoyed my first visit to the stadium since the Six Nations, I couldn't help noticing a different attitude of those in control of the stadium's notification system which puts out messages to the crowd.
Cuthbert: Wales have to deliver
ALEX Cuthbert says the pressure on Wales is huge ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series game against Fiji today.
Anyanwu heads the list of star attractions
TOP 14 transfer speculation is always thoroughly entertaining, and this season has so far been no exception.
Goldthorp can challenge Kildunne for No.15 spot
LOUGHBOROUGH Lightning head coach Nathan Smith is backing Fran Goldthorp to compete with Ellie Kildunne, right, for England's No.15 jersey.
Four-try David calls the shots for Bears
MILLIE David helped Bristol blow Leicester away after scoring four of their 10 tries at Welford Road.
Scott-Young keen to follow his father
TYPICAL of most Australians, Scott-Young Angus has fairly sunny disposition and the loose forward is confident that Saints can soon start to turn things around on the road.
When value for money is not part of the deal
ENGLAND'S bench strategy against New Zealand - goodbye \"bomb squad\", hello \"squib squad\"-has been investigated, psychoanalysed, convicted on all charges and mercilessly sentenced by the entire rugby world and its maiden aunt, so there is no earthly point in returning to the scene of the crime.
'I want to prove my worth to Bath'
OUT-OF-FAVOUR winger RuBath aridh McConnochie is hoping to use the Premiership Cup to lay down a challenge to Johann van Graan and make his selection claims impossible to ignore.
