1
Gatland: 'We've been looking back on some of the figures and numbers from 2015. We're ahead'
By Josh Raisey
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has given some very positive signs to all Welsh fans on social media, as he compared his team’s current World Cup training camp to the one in 2015.
The team are currently in the Swiss town of Fiesch, where they are going through a camp at altitude, similar to the one they did in 2015.
The long-time coach said that there has been an improvement in a number of areas between the two camps.
“We’re really happy where we are at the moment, we’ve been looking back on some of the figures and numbers from 2015 and we’re ahead of where we were in terms of the training volume, the intensity of training.”
Wales went on to a training camp in Doha, Qatar for a further 10 days in 2015, but that has not been announced this year, as the team will head back home and prepare for four test matches against England, home and away, and Ireland, home and away, before the final squad is announced.
Wales had a decent 2015 World Cup given the circumstances, losing narrowly to South Africa in the quarter-finals. They also upset hosts England at Twickenham in the pool stage with an injury-ravaged team that saw scrum-half Gareth Davies playing on the wing. That was a Herculean effort, in which they surged to victory in the latter stages of the match. Their win could have been due to the conditioning and fitness of the team, meaning these camps have a lasting effect.
However, going into the World Cup in 2015, they were nowhere near as prepared as they are now. Wales are going to Japan off the back of a Grand Slam victory earlier this year, Gatland’s third, which is much more promising than their third-place finish in 2015.
The depth and talent in this squad is the same, if not better than in has been in the last two World Cups, so the fact that this camp has gone better than the previous ones is surely an encouraging sign to all fans.
Wales face another tough pool this World Cup, with Australia and Fiji to contend with, but if what Gatland has said is anything to go by, everything seems in place for Wales to win this group.
Watch:
JR East offers the JR EAST PASS for international visitors to Japan which allows sightseers to travel around freely for 5 days on the JR East Japan network.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Sam Simmonds' Montpellier replacement a blow for Wallabies – report
3
Camille Chat breaks silence on his immediate effect Racing 92 exit
4
Six players Rassie Erasmus must hand Springbok debuts to in 2025
5
Latest Comments
A new hard edge to Wallaby rugby that sorts out who is "all in" versus those in two minds. Razor should take note and forget his push for off-shore selections and infatuation with Mounga.
Go to commentsI like the idea of Elrigh Louw as a long-term option for captaincy. Honestly, it’s hard to say who else could take on that role after Siya Kolisi, as 2027 is still a long way off. In my opinion, Siya will likely go to the Rugby World Cup in 2027 unless injury or a significant dip in form prevents him.
Between now and 2027, I think the captaincy will be shared among several players as Siya’s playing time is carefully managed—a strategy the Springboks have been implementing for some time. Younger players like Salmaan Moerat might get opportunities to captain in tier-two matches, as we’ve already seen. Other emerging talents like Jordan Hendrikse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu could also be considered, though the Boks have traditionally favored forwards for captaincy roles. Damian Willemse is another possibility, but he first needs to play his way back into the team.
My personal feeling is that there should be an effort to appoint a black captain to replace Siya. His captaincy has been pivotal in broadening rugby's appeal across racial groups in South Africa over the past 7 years. More so than any other period in the last 30 years.
Form permitting, Moerat is a strong contender, given his leadership qualities and pedigree. However, some might view such an appointment as political, potentially overlooking Moerat's real potential and the broader significance of such a decision.
Other players with leadership potential have been mentioned in the past, such as Phepsi Buthelezi. However, it remains to be seen whether the former DHS star will secure a permanent spot in the Springbok lineup. The first Zulu captain of the Springboks? Would be nice, but unlikely given the competition for the 8 jersey.
One positive aspect of the uncertainty around Siya’s long-term successor is the way the Springboks have emphasized shared leadership among senior players. This approach has lessened the pressure on a single captain and allowed the team to thrive collectively.
When Siya was first appointed, there was skepticism about his leadership credentials. And whether he was the best 6 in the country. The shared leadership strategy gave him the support and platform to grow into the exceptional captain he is today. And he's proven critics wrong about his abilities as a player.
I find it interesting that he's playing at 8 for the Sharks. Rassie has made a habit of taking 36ers and above to the World Cup, players who bring options to the table like Frans Steyn, Schalk Brits, Duane Vermeulen and more recently Deon Fourie.
All of SA wants to see Siya win a 3rd World Cup. That's for sure.
And if he goes, he'll lead.
Go to comments