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.
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin August 20, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Rugby Paper dergisinin August 20, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
