Wales rugby squad LIVE: World Cup announcement reaction as Warren Gatland names 33-man squad
The 33-man squad is set to be unveiled as Wales look to bounce back after a disappointing Six Nations
Warren Gatland prepares to name his 33-man Wales rugby squad for the Rugby World Cup in France. The announcement comes just days after his side suffered a thumping 52-16 warm-up defeat to South Africa in Cardiff.
Jac Morgan looks likely to captain the side having done so in two of their three warm-up games but Wales already have to contend with a host of injuries as they look to bounce back from a disappointing Six Nations performance.
Fly-half Gareth Anscombe, winger Alex Cuthbert and No 8 Taulupe Faletau have not featured in any of the three preparation games. Dan Biggar and Liam Williams also missed the clash with South Africa while there are concerns, too, at hooker after injuries sustained by Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias against England.
Wales reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup - held in Japan - losing out to eventual winners South Africa in the semi-finals.
Follow all the updates and reaction below:
Warren Gatland impressed by competition for World Cup places
“We have been so impressed with this group of players,” he said.
“And as it has turned out there was an opportunity for us to give everyone a chance to put their hand up. We feel that the time we have had together, we’ve increased the depth and competition within the squad.
“A number of teams have picked up one or two injuries, so you have got to have players who have been with you for that period, hopefully had some game time and been training with the squad.”
Warren Gatland impressed by competition for World Cup places
Wales head coach Warren Gatland believes that “depth and competition” has increased in his squad as World Cup selection looms large.
Reigning world champions South Africa provided Wales’ final warm-up opposition at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
The race for World Cup places in Gatland’s 33-strong group is then due to conclude on Monday when he names those players who will head to France next month.
Only fly-half Gareth Anscombe, wing Alex Cuthbert and number eight Taulupe Faletau, who are recovering from injuries, have not featured competitively among a 48-man training squad during the August schedule.
‘Selection is the hardest part’ claims Gatland
Warren Gatland says choosing a squad for the World Cup, or any other tournament, is the most difficult part of being an international head coach.
Writing in the Telegraph the Wales boss said: “Selection is the hardest part of being a head coach.
“It is tough letting players down and knowing that they are disappointed. And I understand that disappointment. If they weren’t disappointed, they probably shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
In today’s society, it sometimes feels like we tell everyone everything, and everyone is given information in order to make everyone feel comfortable and good about themselves. But life is not always like that.
“Some of the players will no doubt be disappointed. And the coaches and I will be available for a phone call afterwards for feedback. Some players may not look for feedback, and that is fine too. I fully respect that.
“I expect them to be unhappy with selection and trying to prove me wrong. Realistically, given the amount of injuries you expect to pick up during a World Cup, some of them will know they could yet be involved anyway.”
Wales were ‘physically dominated’ by South Africa says Gatland
Warren Gatland believes his Wales team will take lessons from their 52-16 thumping against South Africa and that the players will be better because of the experience of the defeat.
“It was disappointing because we were dominated physically on both sides of the ball. We’d spoken to the players about the physicality they’d bring and the fact they were playing against the world champions who’d just come out of a Rugby Championship,” said Gatland.
“We were playing against a quality, world class side who were fully loaded and who made the most of their opportunities. The only positive I can take is there is hopefully a lot of learning that some of the players will have taken from the game.
“The disappointing thing for me were the soft tries we gifted them – it didn’t help throwing a couple of intercepts. We stayed in the game in the first half for a long period and it was pretty tight.
“I think there are some easy fixes. Probably four or five of their tries are easy enough to stop and then all of a sudden there’s a different complexion on the game.
“Contact wise we need to be a little bit better and a little bit quicker into the breakdown. When we had good line speed, we stopped some of their momentum and we need to continue to work on getting off the line to stop the physical dominance they ended up having.
“There’ll be a lot of good learnings we can take out of this to build over the next few weeks. I’m not so happy today, but I’m pretty pleased with the progression we’ve made and how hard we’ve worked.
Sam Warburton convinced Jac Morgan will be named Wales captain
Former Wales Rugby captain, Sam Warburton, says he has no doubt that Jac Morgan will be named captain for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Hooker Dewi Lake is Morgan’s the main rival for the armband but is struggling with a knee injury so the way seems open for 23-year-old Morgan to take charge of the team.
“Jac will be captain - I’m fairly sure of that,” Warburton said. “And I also think Taine Basham showed up very well off the bench in the last two games and I believe he will get the nod because he can also cover six and has experience at eight for the Dragons.
“What’s going to be sad, because all the back-rowers are worthy of going, is that someone like a Dan Lydiate or a Tommy Reffell is going to miss out I feel because they’re specialists at six and seven respectively.”
Faletau and Anscombe in contention
Taulupe Faletau could make the journey to his fourth World Cup regardless of his absence from all three of Wales’ warm-up games. The No 8 is still recovering from a calf complaint, but is nearing fitness and is in the thoughts of Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
Outside-half Gareth Anscombe, who has a thumb injury that forced him to sit out the warm-ups as well is also being highlighted by Gatland who said:
“They’re in contention because of their experience. If they were young players, it would be very, very difficult to select them.
“But given the vast amount of experience, they’ll definitely be part of these discussions.”
English rugby ‘digging its own grave’ after Ireland humbling, says Cipriani
Ex-England fly-half Danny Cipriani says English rugby is ‘digging its own grave’ following a 29-10 defeat to Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Cipriani, who played 16 times for England, tore into the side on social media saying it was being led ‘by people who do not understand the art of the game.’
England conceded five tries in their World Cup warm-up game in Dublin and head coach Steve Borthwick faces further disciplinary-based disruptions this week following Billy Vunipola’s red card.
English rugby ‘digging its own grave’ after Ireland humbling, says Cipriani
The former England fly-half took aim at England’s mindset following their heavy defeat on Saturday
Wales left with questions after South Africa demolition
It wasn’t pretty watching for Wales fans on Saturday as South Africa cruised to a 52-16 win. It was a record victory for the Springboks in Wales and the first time Warren Gatland has seen his side concede 50+ points in either of his spells as head coach.
Here’s how the Boks brought up 50...
Wales boss Warren Gatland says heavy South Africa loss helps World Cup selection
Warren Gatland said Wales’ record defeat to South Africa in Cardiff had made his World Cup selection task easier.
Gatland names his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday on the back of a chastening 52-16 thumping to the Springboks.
After two warm-up games against England, in which Wales won once and lost once and generally saw the reputation of their young team enhanced, Gatland’s side were dismantled by opponents boasting 659 Test caps to their 235.
South Africa’s victory – the first time Wales have conceded 50 points under Gatland – comfortably eclipsed their previous biggest win in Cardiff – a 34-12 in 2007.
Asked if the game had answered a lot of questions on his World Cup selection before next month’s tournament in France, head coach Gatland said: “I think so. We’ll go back to the hotel, sit down as coaches and hopefully finalise it.”
Wales boss Warren Gatland says heavy South Africa loss helps World Cup selection
It was the first time Wales have conceded 50 points under Warren Gatland, who picks his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday.
South Africa send message to Rugby World Cup rivals with Wales demolition
World champions South Africa delivered a ruthless display that bristled with pace and power to demolish Wales 52-16 at the Principality Stadium.
An inexperienced Wales line-up contained a total of only 235 caps and the Springboks showed no mercy as they cruised to a record victory over their opponents in Cardiff.
Wales’ final Rugby World Cup warm-up Test – head coach Warren Gatland will name his 33-strong squad for the tournament on Monday – proved a horribly one-sided affair.
It was the first time in either of Gatland’s reigns as head coach that Wales had conceded 50 or more points.
Centre Jesse Kriel and wing Canan Moodie each scored two tries, while hooker Malcolm Marx, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and replacement Damian Willemse also touched down, with South Africa’s tally completed by a penalty try and five Manie Libbok conversions.
South Africa send message to Rugby World Cup rivals with Wales demolition
Wales 16-52 South Africa: The Springboks scored a record amount of points in Wales as Siya Kolisi returned from long-term injury
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