Cast, naturally, in the role of the feared Philistine giant are the world champion Springboks; playing their part as the young, overmatched shepherd are a Wales side beaten in their last 11 games and swallowing down nervously the reality that an entire calendar year without a win beckons.
David was at least armed with a staff, five stones and a slingshot; in their current configuration, Warren Gatland’s side look comparatively underpowered. Harmonious elegies seem to play each time a callow side venture in to the grounds of their once intimidating Cardiff castle, mournful howls from the bastions from a public by now expecting little – and yet still finding themselves disappointed.
In the past two weeks, the situation in Wales has gone from faintly diverting to simply sad. If defeat to Fiji was emblematic of a team lacking in talent and leadership, the 52-20 collapse against Australia seemed to show a side that, while retaining corporeal form, had been drained entirely of its spirit.
Gatland himself has taken on husk-like qualities at various times this year, his recent moments of levity and light seeming to come when considering a future beyond his current role rather than the task at hand. The infighting that typifies such a sorry situation has begun – Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Alex Cuthbert were among those to criticise their former head coach, favourite sons squabbling with a patriarch who once made the Welsh rugby family flourish.
Denne historien er fra November 23, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 23, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Draper dreams of joining exclusive club in Miami
Victory would match exploits of Sampras, Agassi and Federer
Phillipson: Leave London to see scale of schools crisis
A war of words has erupted over Bridget Phillipson’s school reforms, with the education secretary urging critics to try leaving London for a change”.
'In everything, Americans want to win. It's the culture'
United States manager Mauricio Pochettino talks to Miguel Delaney about how the nation could soon dominate football
While he's Trump's friend, Netanyahu is never going to end the bloodshed in Gaza
Conscious of the need not to infuriate unnecessarily Benjamin Netanyahu on whom the fate of the 59 Israelis still held in Gaza depends – the country’s Hostage and Missing Families’ Forum usually tries to weigh its words with care.
Ending two-child cap 'could lift 600,000 out of poverty'
Scrapping the two-child benefit cap would lift 600,000 children out of poverty in the next five years, analysis has found.
Ukraine left hog-tied by one-sided plan hamstrung and
The apparent olive branch offered by Moscow after lengthy talks in fact suits the Kremlin tactically, writes Sam Kiley
Burn's tall order from Asda shifts to Three Lions call-up
Dan Burn can complete a journey from non-league to senior international with his first cap this week, writes Richard Jolly
'No, we can't': the cry of a party a long way from power
In her speech to launch the Tories’ new policy programme, Kemi Badenoch struck a humble note.
Society will suffer without free emergency contraception
/—__~ Ordinarily, there are many barriers to accessing emergency contraception. Beyond the expense y and awkward opening times, there’s the pain and embarrassment of the compulsory consultation, the fear of being stigmatised and judged – or, worse still, being spotted by someone you know.
Kendall passes two key tests but is not out of minefield
The test for Liz Kendall was simple, according to one Labour insider. If the response to her statement is dominated by wheelchair users protesting that they will be worse off, she will have failed. If, on the other hand, the focus of the debate is about getting more people into work, she will have succeeded.
