Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Long goodbye to testing Wales international season

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Sunday, 14 July 2024 02:50

There was a period when you could almost name Gatland's match-day 23. Those days are gone.

He has had to contend with losing a host of players from Wales' golden generation and a number of high-profile injuries during the campaign.

Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and now-banned Rhys Webb retired from international rugby before the World Cup, while George North, Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny joined them after the tournament.

Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Tomos Francis, Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe were missing for the Six Nations.

Faletau, Morgan, Anscombe and Adam Beard were also absent during the summer tour because of injury, while Ryan Elias, Josh Adams and Will Rowlands were rested and Francis continued to be absent after moving to play club rugby in France.

So Gatland has been without some of his top players for long stints and has used 64 players in the 16 internationals this season.

The Wales head coach fielded a starting forward pack of just 112 caps in the final game against Australia, 23 fewer than the Wallabies skipper James Slipper.

Gatland has baffled some with his selections, including the continued omission of Morgan Morris and Nicky Smith and decisions such as playing Mason Grady out of position at inside centre.

He is determined to stick with his policy of blooding young players who have little experience of Test rugby or winning at that level.

Bath prop Archie Griffin remarkably made his first professional start in Wales' first-Test defeat by the Wallabies in Sydney.

Gatland has asked for patience from the Welsh public and maintains Wales will develop into a very good side and there have been some encouraging signs in Australia.

He claims other nations would not want to face them in the 2027 World Cup, citing a forward pack including the likes of Griffin, Lake, Morgan, Aaron Wainwright, Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza coming into their prime.

Short-term pain for long-term gain has been the recurring message.

Read 85 times

Soccer

NL quarterfinal draw: Spain to face Netherlands

NL quarterfinal draw: Spain to face Netherlands

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe draw for the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals was made on Frid...

Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates

Premier League injury and suspension news, predicted lineups, fantasy updates

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFind out who is missing through injury, who's in a race against tim...

Premier League changes APT rules after City case

Premier League changes APT rules after City case

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Premier League has announced changes to its Associated Party Tr...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Pistons' Cunningham exits vs. Hornets after fall

Pistons' Cunningham exits vs. Hornets after fall

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Detroit guard Cade Cunningham left Thursday nigh...

George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 games

George has bone bruise, to miss at least 2 games

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPhiladelphia 76ers star Paul George has a bone bruise in his left k...

Baseball

Ohtani 'slowly ramping up' in post-surgery rehab

Ohtani 'slowly ramping up' in post-surgery rehab

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Shohei Ohtani is in the early stages of rehabbing fr...

City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium

City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The St. Petersburg City Council reversed co...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated