WALES must be licking their lips with the prospect of France as their quarter-final opponents because they have had their number for some time – and nor will Warren Gatland be fazed by getting South Africa as their most likely semi-final opposition.
The Welsh will be feeling fine and dandy about being on that side of the knock-out draw, with their prospects of reaching the World Cup final for the first time getting a big boost at just the right time.
They have also got a couple of the stand-out players in the tournament in scrum-half Gareth Davies and full-back Liam Williams. You need your key players to hit form at the right time in tournaments, and it is the quarter-finals where you need to get real lift-off.
Davies has done well, and has caught the eye with his ability to read play and sniff out interceptions. Anyone firing the ball anywhere close to him had better watch out, because he has the anticipation and the pace to run the ball in from almost anywhere on the pitch.
Williams has been impressive in attack and defence, and he played a crucial part in the Welsh fight-back against Fiji because of his ability under the high ball and the way he always manages to make yardage when he counterattacks.
Fiji rose to the occasion against Wales, and for me even though they went out after losses to the Welsh, Australia and Uruguay – when Josh Matavesi couldn’t have hit a barn door – the way they play lit up the tournament.
This story is from the October 13, 2019 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the October 13, 2019 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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