WALES – Quarter Finals
The expected ending to Wales 2023 Rugby World Cup story has already been discussed, with a quarter-final departure to England being foretold by RUCK’s fortune tellers. However, Wales will likely have an interesting Rugby World Cup campaign, as all eyes will be on Warren Gatland after an underwhelming fifth placed finish in the 2023 Six Nations.
Thankfully, Gatland was able to record a win in his return to Wales, with a sigh of relief exhaled across the nation following the victory over Italy. Yet this was the peak of Wales’ Six Nations, as they were comfortably beaten by Gaelic brothers Ireland and Scotland, as with France also running out decisive winners at 41-28.
Wales entire campaign was overshadowed by the WRU’s contract negotiation saga, with the off-field focus distracting Gatland’s men, with the England match almost cancelled due to Welsh players threatening to strike. However, the mainstream dust has now settled on that saga, and Wales will be tested in their Pool C encounters. They look likely to win all but the match against Australia, as the Wallabies seem favourites to top the pool, having recently leap-frogged Wales and Argentina in the World Rugby rankings.
Fiji and Georgia will prove to be tough tests for Warren Gatland’s side, and may even trip up Wales’ aims of getting out the group. In last year’s Autumn series, Wales were defeated 12-13 by a regimented Georgian side at the Principality Stadium, in what was the nail in the coffin for Wayne Pivac’s time as Wales Head Coach. Wales last played Fiji in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool Stage, where they ran out 29-17 victors.
This Welsh side still features many of the older veteran players from that Japan World Cup, but their legs are more tired now, with a transitional era is set to ensue after the 2023 World Cup. Similar to Chile against England, Wales take on Portugal in Pool C, who are tough to predict on their Rugby World Cup debut. This could well be a ‘banana skin’ match for Wales, as the Portuguese have no expectations, and are out to upset the renowned international sides on the biggest stage.