15. Gareth Anscombe: 6
A few errors and questionable decisions from the Cardiff Blues man. Perhaps would be more effective at fly-half rather than full back in the future.
14. Alex Cuthbert: 5
An improvement on his shambolic outing against Australia last week but still nowhere near his best. Out of position for South Africa’s winning try but unfairly scapegoated for the exit from the tournament.
13. Tyler Morgan: 6.5
In only his third cap at senior level, Morgan stepped up and looked confident throughout. He made a few decent carries and barely gave his opposite number Jesse Kriel a chance to get going.
12. Jamie Roberts: 7
Had his best game of the tournament as he carried well into contact, put in some hard tackles and some lovely passes too. Showed why he is one of the first names on the team sheet.
11. George North: 7
Some first half breaks were a reminder of his threat and his attacking prowess. Didn’t have his best game but came looking for the ball more and generally looked dangerous.
10. Dan Biggar: 8
Another composed performance and Wales’ standout performer of the tournament. Excellent kick-chase to set up the try and his penalties and drop goal kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely throughout.
9. Gareth Davies: 7
Bagged his fifth try in as many games through some great support running alongside Dan Biggar. Starting to develop into an excellent international scrum half with his confidence looking high. A great option for Wales with Rhys Webb set to miss the Six Nations.
1. Gethin Jenkins: 6.5
Held his own on his return to the matchday squad up against a strong South African front row. Some strong work at the breakdown as you’d come to expect. There’s still life in the old dog yet.
2. Scott Baldwin: 6
A few lineout issues including a loss of possession in a strong attacking position for Wales, but can overall take a lot of positives from his World Cup. Now nailed on as starting hooker for Wales.
3. Samson Lee: 6
Set-piece work as strong as ever and did well up against the experience of Beast. Has improved in every game following his long lay off from injury.
4. Alun Wyn-Jones: 6
Guilty of handing South Africa six points from a couple of soft penalties, but all in all not a bad outing for his 100th international cap.
5. Luke Charteris: 6
Another who has had an impressive couple of weeks, yet seemed to give away needless penalties that were out of character. Disrupted driving lineouts well and lived up to his tag of being a nuisance.
6. Dan Lydiate: 8.5
Arguably the best Welsh player at Twickenham with an impressive 21 tackles despite coming off for Justin Tipuric before the end. Brought back in to match the Springbok brutality and physicality and did not disappoint.
7. Sam Warburton: 8
Inspirational performance from the skipper again as he claimed four turnovers and generally slowed down Springbok ball at the breakdown. The entire Welsh back row made a combined tackle count of 55 – an amazing tally.
8. Taulupe Faletau: 7
Worked well as a ball carrying option and for the most part managed well whilst under pressure at the back of the scrum to deliver Welsh ball. Kept on right until the end.
Replacements: 6
Paul James replaced Gethin Jenkins but the few scrums meant his contribution was a bit scarce, whilst Ken Owens had a decent shift after replacing the injured Scott Baldwin. Tomos Francis featured as cover for Samson Lee. Bradley Davies put in a some bruising tackles in his appearance whilst Justin Tipuric didn’t quite open up the play as Wales would have hoped.
In the backs, James Hook came on outside of Jamie Roberts for the last quarter or so, Rhys Priestland replaced Dan Biggar and Lloyd Williams had a few moments at scrum half. Wales were largely on the back foot so their impression was limited.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
Biggest thing that the Welsh can take out of the RWC is the increased strength in depth.
Poor old Cuthbert just needs to go back to club rugby and rediscover some confidence.
Jenkins did better than expected after as torrid time in the scrum so far. Maybe his obituary was premature.
Would have Jamie Roberts and Warburton alongside Lydiate on 8.5. All three were unbelievable defensively.
The defence from Wales was absolutely phenomenal. Roberts is their defensive organiser so deserves more credit for that. Warburton and Lydiate in tandem are brilliant at the breakdown and around the fringes defensively.
However; Biggar again completely failed to get the back line moving. There was nothing resembling attacking structure which is surely what you’d want from a 10? His kicking game is certainly an 8, but that isn’t enough for a 10 at this level.
Also thought that Wales lacked forward carriers in the pack. Outside of Faletau, they look a little short of options. Whilst Faletau makes some great hard yards around the fringes he is never going to rack up the yards or breaks of a Vermuelen or Picamoles. If you look at the sheer number of strong carriers SA had, it possibly is what led to SA having so much ball, being able to consistently trust carries to carry strongly on the gain line.
Jacob,
Gethin Jenkins cost Wales an early try and this was after Cementhead called him ‘the greatest prop in the world at loose play’. Yep, he was certainly loose there.
Replace Biggar….with what ……….Hook, P++shand or Matthew ‘Diddyman’ Morgan?
Two of these have been awful at No10 for Wales too many times and cost the side games in the past, the other can only tackle people the size of and U11 side or maybe the Ant Hill Mob.
Biggar didn’t butcher 2 tries as Gethin Jenkins and Charteris did.
C++tbutt will almost certainly never play for Wales again after this RWC.
There again Cementhead loves him so much and may well keep him on board because he is a big……..a big failure. Go back to showjumping you useless t++t.
He will be lucky to get a contract for the Cardiff High School Old Boys side when his Loos one expires.
Don’t necessarily think Wales have a better option that Biggar, and I don’t think he is a bad player; I just think the love for him has gone way over the top in the media of the back of some good kicking off the tee.
Can’t really compare the ability to convert overlap between a fly half and two front 5 players. Unless you’re from NZ in which case every player on the pitch could play 10 for most of international teams…
Cuthbert was poor in defense; but he always has been. It is only because he is not quieter in attack that people suddenly pick up on it; much like Ashton for England.
Surprisingly low average scores for an intensely close quarter final. More for Jamie, 1 pt each extra for the front row. Faletau was outstanding, 8.5. The words seem to praise the players but the scores are decidedly average. I agree that Tyler Morgan did not look out of place in his 2nd cap but he only gets 6.5?
Agree with Staggy that 1 tiny, tiny silver lining is more depth created. Scrum half, centres, full back. Anscombe did ok for our 3rd/4th choice full back. Once Walker and Liam Williams are fit Cuthbert will no longer make the squad. Tomas Francis is a find. Ken Owens & Baldwin are excellent fighters for the 2 shirt. Backrow is, as always for Wales recently, well stocked. Could do with a better backup for Biggar, Tyler Morgan and Hallam Amos will be pushing for selection.
With Williams X2 (Scott and Liam), Webb, Jon Davies and Halfpenny we’d have seen a different game yesterday. The prospect of both Gareth Davies and Webb in a matchday 22 is very exciting. In terms of moving forwards only Gethin is nailed on out of this lot to not make the next world cup. Even AWJ could soldier on given he’s playing in a managed Pro 12 team.
I’d go so far as to suggest that, aside from injuries or loss of form, yesterday’s 23 (minus Jenkins) should all be in the selection mix for the next world cup.
I can see two concerns, depth-wise: props – hopefully Lee and Francis will only get better, but another tight-head would be good, and Smith and Evans will need to come along a bit before they’re top class players; and centre – we have lots of cover at 13, but if Roberts is crocked the game will have to change considerably. That said, a game plan based around Scott Williams at 12 could be very useful!
While I agree with your comment regarding depth but the question still remains will Gatland pick them or will he continue to select the same old players regardless of form once everyone is fit again
Unfair criticism of Gatland. He manages new faces in pretty well but has this rep of being rigid. Webb, Biggar and Liam Williams have all displaced the famous faces in the last few years. With a fit squad we all know Cuthbert would no longer be in the back 3.
Ditto Lee, Francis, Baldwin and Charteris. He can’t change the whole XV but the first choice XV we have now is a good 3 or 4 faces different to what it is a few years ago. This is quality team selection – blood players, keep some faith, change when needed.
Schmidt on the other hand was lauded with praise for supposedly developing depth better than Gatland but all of a sudden Ireland are in crisis after losing 4 players. Don’t get me wrong – world class players – but if Gats gets abuse for not developing depth then Schmidt, the “Deep Blue” #InJoeWeTrust genius deserves it as well….
I might be wrong but hasn’t Cuthbert started every game of this campaign?
I know there have been injuries but up until this game there has been other options throughout. Also Jenkins starting seemed an odd decision
I may be being a bit harsh but throughout his tenure there have been players who get picked regardless of form until injury forces his hand
Then again as an England fan I think I should put down the stone and walk out of the greenhouse. Why is it that these professional coaches can’t see what is plainly clear to so many fans
Hallam Amos started over him against England even though Cuthbert was fit.
I think for the most part there is some serious depth for Wales now. Certainly two or three players in most positions that are competent or better at test match level. We can’t find one 12 who is a competent test player so fair play to you!
The only criticism I have of Wales (and possibly Gatland), is the lack of attaching game plan. Their defense on Saturday is as good as I have seen in any test match in years. But the try scored was an up and under which was woefully misjudged by the FB. I’m trying to think of a time when Wales played several good phases of attacking play on Saturday and I can’t. I recognise that Jonathan Davies and Liam Williams would improve this significantly, but I think think there was enough in that backline to do something surely?
@Brighty – do you really think this Wales side have improved since 2011? Considering it is largely the same squad (especially in the pack), is that not a problem?
Agree Jacob – we need a) a new attacking coach and b) Gats to loosen his grip on this team. He isn’t faultless but I prefer to think of what we could do if he improved rather than what we could do if we replaced him. As you’ve pointed out – Amos started over Cuthbert and with a fit Walker, Williams and Halfpenny he’d not even be in the squad. I think picking Walker when unfit to come into the squad clearly showed that if we’d made the semi’s then Cuthbert would have been out.
So for me the Cuthbert situation is a) he stuck with him for a while as he has undoubtedly been a star for Wales b) when he was ready to drop him circumstances prevented it.
I can think of few top teams who in the past 18 months have a new 1+2, a new 2nd row starter (Charteris rarely started, it was always Bradley or Evans previously), a new wing/fullback (Williams is in the team somewhere now when fit) and a new 10/9 (Priestland and Mikey were still the most common option 18 months ago). Yet Gatland is still criticised for conservatism whereas the “don’t do offloads” Schmidt gets all of the plaudits.
We’ve played Ireland 3 times this year, beaten them twice. They lost to England. In the 6Ns Ire/Wal/Eng all finished on equal num of wins. Yet coming into this WC for some reason Ireland thought they were all chocolate and were talking about going all the way despite not having ever reached a semi final, something they failed to do again. I saw a tweet yesterday bemoaning that “the most skillful team in the NH” couldn’t match Arg – yet Ireland’s results do not backup this odd reputation they have for being the best and most attacking skillful team in the NH while their coach is lauded as a genius. He’s got excellent players at his disposal and 100% IRFU backing (who centrally contract their players) so 2 championships, no grand slams and one WC quarter final does not make him a genius. It doesn’t even make him as good as Gats.
Couldn’t agree more with this Brighty in respect of the Irish. Over on Munsterfans they’re FURIOUS that they had to play France (their hardest group game) 7 days before their QF. Blaming it on tiredness! (I’m not sure if they thought the games got easier after the group stages…?).
They had 3 key players out through a combo of bans/injuries and fell apart. Hardly a glowing report for the ‘genius’ Schmidt. As a side note to this, I saw on Twitter I think a rumour that the RFU were planning a 1.5M euro approach to the IRFU to obtain Schmidt.
I also saw one post, which I have to assume was tongue in cheek – blaming England, France & Wales for the Irish result yesterday because they’re only used to playing bosh merchants. :D It made me chuckle anyway..
Ha ha. Yes, I’ve seen that excuse. The full line is that NZ v Arg was weeks ago, and that was Arg’s tough game, whereas Ire v Fra was unfairly last week. It’s an anti-Irish conspiracy!
That last one sums it up for me. As evidenced by the people I met on the weekend 99% of Irish fans, as with most countries, are alright. But there is a hardcore of chippy ones who will point at any reason for a loss other than Ireland being the worst team in the game. (cue having the same thing about “The Welsh” pointed out to me…). But you know, unlike us Welsh and Scottish they don’t whine about things….
Wouldn’t it have been a delicious luxury to have only had 3 key players out? In my head I can now hear Python doing the Yorkshiremen script.
I feel for the Irish team and their fans but have to admit that I am glad to have finally seen the last nail banged into this “genius Schmidt” coffin. Got a bit sick of all the #InJoeWeTrust and “Deep Blue” and “we’re not revealing our power plays yet” smug rubbish to gloss over their losses to us and England.
Anarky, just got involved in a discussion on The Guardian and it’s almost like they’ve copied what you have been saying. Seriously, there are more than a few Irish fans putting forward the “we played Fra the week before, Arg had a few weeks rest against poor opposition” as a key reason for the loss and going so far as advocating the result would have been different if Arg had not had that unfair rest. This is delusion of the highest order. I encourage anyone looking for a laugh, or curious as to how far a fan can go to convince themselves they were the better team in a loss – http://discussion.theguardian.com/comment-permalink/61706103
Do I think we have improved? Hmmm…
Not enough. Yes in some areas, worse in some others. Our game composure is better – these games are tighter, we are more consistent in 6Ns, we’ve beaten SA finally. Our forward power has improved, we’re unearthing some front row gems. Our backrow trio are better, improving with age. Our bench is stronger – Tipuric, Gareth Davies/Webb, Eli Walker. Our defence is even better and we are rarely bested physically.
However, we have regressed into a less expansive game BUT we were pretty limited in 2011 as well once you took Shane out of the equation.
Williams was showing some flashes of what could happen, big loss to injury. Jonathan Davies was the worst of the injuries – he is key to making something off JRs runs. We need freshening up in attack – a new attack coach, some different voices. More mix/match of JR/ScotW/JD2 depending on time of match and even starting ScotW/JD2 sometimes with JR coming on. On Saturday we actually played some great backline moves but they didn’t come off. There was a willingness to run the ball – inside/outside passes – we should have (same old story) scored a try in that first 20 – when we didn’t we regressed again.
I’m not happy. We’ve failed to beat a SANZAR side again. We’re out of the world cup. I’d give us a 6.5/10 for our campaign given the injuries.
As usually a pretty accurate summary of your campaign – in contrast to much of what I had seen over the weekend on twitter where Wales were heralded.
Warburton for me a an absolutely world class player. Lydiate is incredibly useful but I can’t help think he needs to offer a little more. Faletau is obviously a top player but needs help on the carrying front.
If Gatland had someone come in to make use of Wales’ undoubtedly talented back line then Wales will be a seriously dangerous outfit.
I can’t help but feel that all these comments over who is the best out of the defeated 6 nations is akin to blind men arguing who has the most acute hearing. This World Cup has been utterly disastrous for NH rugby. Compare Argentina’s progression in 4 years of the RC compared with Italy’s in 15 years in the 6n. This is a wakeup call, but I fear the other Unions are as craven and self-serving as the contemptuous RFU.
Wales – an inability to close out close games outside of the 6n. Great defence, but their plan B went with Shane Williams retirement. Could this be the end of an era. Does Gatland believe that he can take Wales further? If so backroom coaching changes will be needed.
Scotland – great performance, but we have been here before, as close as the last AIs if memory serves. Can they repeat this level consistently? If so Cotter stays. If not I wonder whether he puts his hat into the England ring, reasoning that things can only get worse? And without wishing to be seen as a hypocrite, but how many of this Scotland team were SH residency picks? Is that Cotter’s strategy, to eventually have no indigenous Scots in the team? If so what is the point (and believe me I am equally uncomfortable about England selecting the likes of Flutey, Freshwater, and even Hughes).
Ireland – too dominant on Sexton. And what is he 30? Yes they had some key injuries, but they should have better strength in depth. Again this may tempt Schmidt to leave for England, especially if there isn’t a better replacement for Sexton than Madigan or Jackson. I notice DDD has been conspicuously absent from these boards. I don’t however, unlike Brighty, want to diminish Schmidt’s achievements. He’s had about 2 years to develop this side, so can understand the more limited strategy, I’ll judge him after a full 4 year cycle.
England – poor coaching, inconsistent selections. It was ever thus and will continue to be so, sadly.
^the analogy I was looking for was bald men fighting over a comb – but you get what I mean…
When you’re in the 2nd division you still want to win that title. We (the NH) are 2nd division right now. We need to up our game. But we will still want to win the 6Ns while doing it.
Yeah, my language was a bit strong there. I don’t want to diminish his achievements – 2 titles on the bounce is excellent. Brilliant. It’s just the constant narrative of the last 24 months has been of him being a tactical genius, Gats a plank, etc. It’s that one side comparison that I do not understand – it seems to be largely built on that last gasp loss to NZ?
I’d rather have Gats record in his first 24 months than Schmidt’s and in no way have I seen any evidence that Schmidt is a genius. However, he has an enviable track record of winning titles, definitely a top end coach.
I agree, it’s impossible to compare defeated teams against each other based on relative performances against different opposition. We can say for all of them (with Scotland the possible exception) that they fell short of the minimum targets they set for themselves.
Some very insightful comments made on here as to the state of our unions. Pity we can’t see these things before a tournament (and I very much include myself in this).
Interestingly which union now represents the biggest draw for a coach?
Scotland – youngish team but limited by their player resources.
Ireland – some real quality and stable domestic situation but are the golden generation all going to disappear shortly.
Wales – some real quality players and now a much more settled domestic scene.
England – the largest player pool, probably the biggest pay cheque, but potential problems with rfu and clubs and lack of world class players.
You’d go Wales IMO unless you were in it for the money, or perhaps the potential and the challenge. I hope we get a coach looking at the latter!
Staggy – I have heard rumours that Gats is actually the highest paid coach in the world? Not a bad option then for the money as well.
Wow didn’t know that. Absolutely no reason to move then – but he does need an attack coach to help him.
I think Gatland will walk if he feels he can’t take the team any further, and after yet another close failure with a SH he may feel that time has come. Or he might think but for the injuries we’d have made it and carry on, but another nearly nearly in AIs and he may decide to call it a day. Just my hunch.
I’ll speak for Wales.
End of an era? I don’t think so. Incredibly competitive with a backline missing key players. Would they have made the difference? no one can answer, but highly unlikely they’d have made the team worse.
We’ve gone from a guaranteed loss against SANZAR to not quite good enough… yet. No reason why they cannot continue to improve and make that step. (Will concede AB’s are probably 2 steps for us). It requires exposure obviously, would we have liked it to have happened sooner? of course, does the fact that it hasn’t quite, mean it never will? Of course not. When all said and done, I don’t think I’d want anyone else taking us on to 2019 than Gats – he gets the majority of his big calls correct. Oh, and the new strength in depth found in enforced circumstances from this WC has been a positive for Wales. This coupled with Melon being the only player guaranteed not to make RWC2019, I think Wales can be positive about the future.
I’d also say that the squad are the tightest they’ve been, probably ever. They could be building to something special.. who knows. This WC was always going to be massively challenging when we shot ourselves in the foot in the Autumn of 2012 – coupled then with the injuries – I think we give a pretty good account of ourselves.
I’m especially optimistic Anarky if this story about Gats considering new coaches turns out to be true – http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/34571973
I’d be happy to see McBryde and Howley swapped out. I’d be sad to see Edwards go, his/our defence has undoubtedly kept us in, and even given us the means to secure wins when we looked done and dusted..
And as a lot of the chat has pointed out, it’s going forward that seems to be our biggest issue at the moment.
I hope we keep Edwards as well.
Bemused at all of these stories of Gats going to England. I can only see him leaving us for a top SANZAR job? Hope I’m right. Would be a tough blow to see him coach England. Very tough.
Now this is coming from a Welshman here so bear with me.
It feels to me that Wales have come up short in almost every ‘big’ game even the ones that they’ve won.
England in 2012, they had the lead and very nearly conceded at the death (and ref forgot about advantage)
England in World Cup, gave away a penalty at the death that had it been kicked or had England not thrown to the front (or knocked on) could well have seen Wales out at the group stages.
South Africa in 2014 – seemed like we were gifting SA opportunities to snatch the game – Scott Williams knocking that ball back into touch right at the end. Willy Le Roux having a shocker at the back seemed our best tactic to relieve pressure.
Ireland in the warm up. Camped on our line, they broke through and could/should have scored to win the game.
All these games saw the opposition with a gifted opportunity at the death to win/draw the game.
I’m not saying that Wales weren’t magnificent in those matches, they were great, but they were no better than they were in all those matches that we lost (SA in Nelspruit and Twickenham, almost every Australia game). Difference was that on those three occasions the ‘small margins’ went our way.
Am I being unduly harsh? Will Wales ever be able to win these games without th drama? We’ve lost comfortably to SA, England, Ireland and NZ in recent years but apart from the famous 30-3 score line I’m not sure I can remember a comfortable Wales win against these opposition.
Where’s the SA players rating. Having now watched the match twice and still feeling sick over again, I do not see anything other than two teams equally balanced where the rub of the green, 50/50 decisions made the difference. ie on another day, different ref the last call could have been a penalty to wales for the SA off their feet at the ruck which lead to scrum etc……………
Dia – there go 70 % of matches between tier 1 nations. Fine margins normally.
No points score for Gatland?
For me, he must bear much responsibility for the loss v Oz when his team kept pounding the oppo line for eons too long & when it wasn’t working! Also Warburton seemed to lack imagination in even attempting to change or vary this aforementioned attack. Perhaps it was he who was dropped on his head in 2011 & not THAT Frenchman!?
Likewise v SA, the team kicked & kicked when they were down to, @ 1 stage anyway, 20% possession! Asking to get clobbered which they fuinally did by… kicking again to the Saffas who came back @ the death to bite them.
So much for pts methinks.
Just like to add something about Cuthbert, naturally I agree that he has an awful two seasons, but you certainly can’t blame him for the SA try. He had to come and make the tackle to cover Warbs being out of position, also the attacking player was carrying the ball in his right hand, suggesting the pass was to be of loaded to the right and not left as happened