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Wales are dominating the Rugby World Cup in one area of the game
By PA
Mike Forshaw has described effort and hard work as Wales’ “bread and butter” as they build towards the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
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Wales were the first team to secure last-eight status, which they achieved following a record 40-6 victory over Pool C rivals Australia.
Japan or Argentina now await them in the knockout phase, although their one remaining group game against Georgia in Nantes next Saturday will see them guaranteed to progress as group winners if they triumph.
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While Wales have scored 11 tries in the tournament so far, their defence – Forshaw’s specialist area – has been a dominant factor.
They have made 506 tackles in three matches, while four players – Jac Morgan, Gareth Thomas, Will Rowlands and Taulupe Faletau – are all among the competition’s top 20, individually.
“We’ve had a lot of tackling practice haven’t we?” Wales assistant coach Forshaw said.
“You have got to give the boys a bit of credit. I think at the weekend (against Australia), the first 20 minutes was up to around 75 tackles, compared with Australia’s 20-odd.
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“Sometimes we are going to have to defend, we are going to be under the pump.
“I understand that in this competition because there are good teams, but I would like to see us playing a bit more, having a bit more even-stevens of a game where we get a bit more time to express ourselves with the ball.
“But when we have not got the ball, it is about that switch of transition and how good we can be. I always say the defence is the start of our attack.
“The biggest thing I like coaching is effort. We have to work hard and that is the bread and butter for us at the moment. These lads have been brilliant.
“If you are under 10 penalties (conceded) in this game and you are under 10 turnovers (conceded), you more or less win the game.
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“We were accurate, but I don’t want to get too carried away. We have got to repeat that.”
Wales’ players have returned to the training pitch following four days off and all attention is now on Georgia, a team that toppled them in Cardiff last November.
Whether head coach Warren Gatland makes changes remains to be seen, but it cannot be ruled out as Wales prepare for the World Cup’s business-end.
Forshaw added: “The last couple of days, I’ve watched their (Georgia’s) games and I think they can be dangerous.
“I think they throw the ball around well. They’ve got a very dangerous full-back. They have some heavy forwards around set-pieces. They get into your five-metre channel.
“It is how we manage that game. We won’t be taking them lightly, that is for sure.
“We’ve got a selection meeting on Sunday evening. I’ve got a couple of ideas, I’m sure that Warren has got a couple of ideas and some of the other staff.
“If I’m totally honest with you, I’m not sure on that question on what we will do with the team, but one thing is for sure, we will be a strong team.”
LMFAO well done Wales, Dominating "The world cup" against the likes of T2 nations and the most broken, green, Australian team to set foot to a rugby pitch.
Not sure what the e team are feeling overly pleased with! as really they have had the easiest pool! cant wait to see what you achieve with fiji !but I think you will lose the game against chilli so you do not have to play them !robbing fiji of sponsorship !
Tier 2 nations seems like your a bit of a hater. Fiji are technically a tier 1 nation these days. Wales have played whats in front of them. Wales tour the wallabies apart. And are looking much better than your England 😂. Defence is phenomenal and not may teams do that to the wallabies in a wc.
Of course they are dominating. Only against who? It is too sad that we gonna see Wales or England in the final and none of them really deserved to be there without playing any of the first 5 teams from groups A and B. Pretty "unfair" tournament structure, indeed. To be honest 3 years ago it was very promising, but the way Wales, England and Australia playing today making the RWC final looks like the best of the best ones playing the best of the worst ones. Indeed, it won't be like Argentina-France final last year in Qatar. :-(
Teams from groups C and D can get to the SF without playing any teams from groups A and B, but in the SF they would have to play a top team from one of those groups (likely SA, Ireland, France or NZ). It's a bad draw, but the final will be between two strong teams.
I understand your sentiment, but Wales and England can only play what's in front of them. And you've got to give it to both of those teams: they've been so far massively over-delivering on the expectations based on their performances earlier in the year.
And at least in the case of Wales, they've provided entertainment with the side of results. Each and every one of their games thus far has been very watchable.
Sure, the pool makeup is a travesty, but at least those teams lead their respective pool, and in a dominant manner, too, which is something most people wouldn't have bet on two months ago.
What I like is, that the QF combos are starting to take the shape of something pretty spicy.
Ireland-New Zealand, England-Fiji ... yes, please.