Wales play their second recreation of the Rugby World Cup after they sort out Portugal in Nice on Saturday.
After a nerve-shredding victory over Fiji, one other bonus-point win would strengthen Wales’ place in Pool C.
Here, the PA information company appears at among the essential speaking factors heading into the sport.
Wales have fast momentum
The Fiji fixture in Bordeaux had been on Wales’ World Cup radar ever because the draw was made, with Warren Gatland’s squad understanding that victory over harmful opposition would put them on a quarter-final course. While they have been hanging on at instances in the course of the closing levels, Wales obtained the job finished and did it in bonus-point style. Another five-pointer ought to observe in opposition to Portugal, setting them as much as face Australia eight days later. If Fiji defeat the Wallabies on Sunday in Saint-Etienne, then Wales could be accountable for the group.
A glimpse of the long run
Wales’ beginning line-up on Saturday is affected by gamers who might present basis stones for groups means past the present World Cup. Exeter locks Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza are simply 20 and 21, centre Mason Grady is 21, wing Louis Rees-Zammit 22 and captain Dewi Lake solely 24, highlighting a wealthy seam of younger expertise out there to move coach Gatland. There are additionally people who missed the World Cup reduce this time round – Max Llewellyn, Tom Rogers and Joe Roberts, amongst others – who might simply characteristic within the Six Nations squad later this season, suggesting that promising instances lie forward.
Warren Gatland in his component
The Wales head coach’s physique language presently exudes perception and confidence. While he readily acknowledged a fraught remaining 10 minutes of final weekend’s victory over Fiji, finally Wales’ 32-26 success made a direct assertion within the quest to prime Pool C. Gatland’s World Cup report reveals semi-final appearances both aspect of reaching the 2015 quarter-finals, offering sustained excellence. And he has the air of somebody eyeing not solely a repeat efficiency of 4 years in the past in Japan, however to go even higher. It is early days, but the preliminary indicators might hardly be extra encouraging.
Wales reduce unfastened in Lisbon
It is 29 years since Wales and Portugal confronted one another, and a one-sided affair performed out within the Portuguese capital. After making a World Cup pool exit in 1991, it meant Wales having to qualify for the following event. Portugal have been despatched 102-11, with Wales working in 16 tries. Wing Nigel Walker scored 4 of them, whereas there have been hat-tricks for Ieuan Evans and Mike Hall as a Wales crew that additionally included the likes of Neil Jenkins, Robert Jones, Gareth Llewellyn and Scott Quinnell ran riot. Wales efficiently completed the qualifying job in Madrid seven days later, seeing off Spain 54-0.
What is Portugal’s World Cup report?
They certified for the 2007 event, which was additionally held in France, being drawn in a troublesome group alongside Scotland and New Zealand. The Scots defeated them 56-10, earlier than the All Blacks posted a factors century. A 31-5 reversal adopted in opposition to Italy, earlier than Portugal regrouped impressively and went near upsetting Romania earlier than they have been edged out 14-10. Former France wing Patrice Lagisquet is now their head coach, and up to date kind has been robust, notably a 46-20 World Cup warm-up win in opposition to the United States and a battling loss to Australia A. They certified for the 2023 World Cup by successful a repechage competitors in Dubai.
