2023-09-10 15:00:00

Who remembers when Wales, chest out and led by the terrible Jonathan Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and the playing master Dan Biggar, terrorized the oval planet? It was beautiful. And at the same time, it’s already far away. Since its last Tournament won, in 2021, the Leek XV appears in general decline.

Aging, less inspired and more predictable, the Welsh appear at the end of the cycle. And even the return of Warren Gatland at the head of the selection (in December 2022) to succeed Wayne Pivac did not give the boost hoped for… Worrying, when approaching a competition which has yet often successful? For sure, the friendly matches played this summer (a victory and a defeat once morest England, but a loss once morest the Springboks – 16-52, to complete the preparation) did not reassure any of the supporters.

“Try to surprise everyone”

However, these men in red will be on a mission. And to the question, a bit naive, asked to Aaron Wainwright during the last Tournament, namely, what are your real objectives for the next World Cup, the third row did not flinch. Straight in the eye, he said Wales would go to France “to win the World Cup. Yes, we seem below the favorites, maybe even outsiders, but we know what we have to put in place, and we will try to surprise everyone”.

Just that? So, the Leek XV will have to pull out all the stops. Their luck, obviously, will come through a big group stage. And in the misfortune of their poor form, the Welsh had the good idea, in December 2020, to be seeded, which allowed them to inherit a more than affordable group. Between the Australians, at least as sick, the unpredictable Fijians, the Georgian outsiders and the unknown Portuguese, it’s difficult to really know who will be able to come out on top.

Six defeats in eight matches in 2023

The fact remains that in this more than affordable group, the teammates of Toulonnais Dan Biggar might well do well. Then, this group will cross with group D, understand that of Argentina and England. Here once more, in the event of qualification, the Welsh might well jostle. And once in the semi-final, who knows what might happen to this selection that is said to be aging but pumped up?

But before we get there, a lot of water will have flowed under the bridge. And the selection which remains on six defeats in eight outings in 2023 will have to find solutions, and quickly. Because in the event of a failed World Cup, it seems that the Welsh monument will enter an even deeper crisis than it currently is…

The team

Corey Domachowski, Tomas Francis, Dillon Lewis, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, Ryan Elias, Dewi Lake, Adam Beard, Dafydd Jenkins, Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell , Christ Tshiunza, Aaron Wainwright.

Gareth Davies, Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Dan Biggar, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer, Mason Grady, George North, Johnny Williams, Nick Tompkins, Josh Adams, Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, Liam Williams.

Selector: Warren Gatland.

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The legend Alun Wyn Jones (158 caps) having announced his international retirement last May, Warren Gatland began looking for a leader capable of embodying what he hopes will be the revival of Welsh rugby. The New Zealander ultimately did not set his sights on just one but on two captains: Jac Morgan (third row, 23 years old) and Dewi Lake (hooker, 24 years old). Teammates within the Ospreys province, the two great hopes of Welsh rugby will try to restore the nobility of a selection in the trough of the wave.

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