It is a difficult task predicting what 2015 has in store for Welsh Rugby. It is difficult to predict what the next week will hold as the WRU-Regional dispute rumbles on towards the start of the new season. Despite this ongoing background noise, Welsh Rugby fans should feel confident going into the World Cup season.
Last season may have been one to forget for Wales but the same group of players won back to back Six Nations titles and came fourth in the 2011 World Cup. These players haven’t become a bad team, they simply did not perform to the levels they know they can. There are several world-class names in the squad; Sam Warburton, Jon Davies and George North to name but a few. These are players who can turn games. These players are vital if Wales have serious ambitions of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup, real match winners.
Wales will have the benefit of being together as a squad for most of 2015. By the time the Six Nations draws to a close at the end of March they will have had two full months together as a squad. By August they will be back together as a squad for the warm up games in Ireland. The beauty of the world cup being in England is that Wales will not have the issue of travelling. The Welsh squad have eleven games until their opening game at the Millennium Stadium, the furthest they have to travel is to Rome, to face Italy.
This is a ‘home’ world cup for Wales; they will be playing at the Millennium Stadium for two group games. The games held in England in the group stages are all at Twickenham, a ground they already know very well. There is nothing out of the ordinary for Wales to fear.
What can possibly go wrong? Well, strength in depth is an issue for Wales, and in a competition of this nature there will be injuries. Gareth Anscombe has been brought over to the Blues because he can cover outside-half and full back. He qualifies for Wales and Warren Gatland might use him the same way. Anscombe is the sort of strength in depth Wales require, a player that covers multiple positions to international standard. Some may say this is James Hook’s role within the squad, but you can’t have too many good players in a squad.
The main issue of course is Wales’ group, which includes England, Australia, Fiji and a play-off winner which is likely to be Russia. Wales have played England and beaten them in the last few years. It is Australia they will have to overcome and they have lost so many tight games against the Australians in recent times.
If Wales can make their way out of the group, ideally topping it with wins against England and Australia they will have a good chance of going a long way in the competition. However, that is asking a lot from this squad as England and Australia both look very strong. I do believe that the eventual winner will come from this group.
How far the Welsh go will depend so much on whether key players stay fit or not. I do think that the world cup has been Gatland’s long term goal and he may even use the Six Nations as a final experiment and sacrifice the competition.
Wales have the talent; we’ve seen it in patches. If they are to succeed in 2015 they need to find some consistency, if they can do that 2015 could be the year of the Dragon.
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