Wales 43 – 14 Georgia
Wales 29 – 25 Australia
Wales 29 – 17 Fiji
Wales 35 – 13 Uruguay
Surface level analysis would conclude that Wales are heading into their quarter-final against France in strong form. They have won all their games in Pool D of the tournament. Unfortunately as with all things, the reality paints a more complex picture. Wales have looked stronger than their warm up games would suggest. They are probably favourites to beat France in the QF, but as a fan I’m somewhat underwhelmed.
The most recent match with Uruguay featured 13 changes to the team and rested some key players, as always with Wales, lots of changes resulted in a mess frankly. Wales were inaccurate, with so many passes going behind players or going to ground, and a fantastic performance from Uruguay made them look far more challenging than the difference in the world rankings would suggest. Emblematic of this were two disallowed tries due to two forward passes, simple errors that cost points.
This alludes to there still being a gulf between the probable players and the possible players. Wales appear to be dangerously on the edge with one or two injuries being all it would take to derail the high level of execution the game plan demands.
Against Australia, Wales were amazing in the first half but then didn’t do much else but defend for the final third (heroically admittedly), but for a moment it looked like at some point Australia were going to break the red wall again and sneak the game. Wales seem determined to kick the ball away no matter what and “trust their defence” I just wish they would hold onto the ball longer and play the final moments in the opposition half, not camped on their own line.
Wales were also given a fright against, Fiji who played really well and tore the Welsh defence apart. For the neutral these games were fantastic, but for me Wales should have enforced their will on their opposition rather more emphatically, especially versus Fiji and Uruguay.
The Welsh game plan is based around a high level of execution. Kicking, claiming the ball in the air, getting the defensive line up correctly etc are all basic skills of the game that teams will emphasize, but for Wales they all need to be there for the machine to start grinding out points. You only need to look at the Uruguay game to see how the plan falls apart when the basics are missing. We have lost a bit of the flair for a more pragmatic, approach.
Wales should have enough to beat France who are hilariously inconsistent. I expect the Welsh defence to stifle the France attack and force lots of mistakes for Wales to set up camp in the French half and start racking up points. Overall I cannot really complain as Wales have won all their pool games and will face France instead of the far trickier England. I am pleased, but the games were not ones I could sit back and relax in that’s for sure.
CodexCaster's Contribution 