RWC 2019 – The Competitors – Wales

A resurgent Wales has long been talked about in hopeful yet optimistic light. This year is different as Wales in 2019 are the real deal. While people can debate how it compares to all Welsh sides historically it is certainly the strongest since the introduction of the Rugby World Cup.

The team from Western Great Britain have done both well and poor in past tournaments. They have made the Semi Finals twice but have also missed on on reaching the Quarter Finals on three occasions, most recently in 2007.

2019 has not only a Welsh team that is ranked no 2 in the world but also a roster with incomparable depth compared to that of prior squads. All told Wales enter the World Cup as a team as favorites to win what is a tricky pool. Results and form imply that Wales can win their pool for the first time since 1999 and be undefeated for the first time since 1987.

 

WORLD CUP HISTORY

RWC	FINAL PLACING	RESULTS
1987	Third	Won vs Canada, Ireland Tonga, England, Australia Lost vs New Zealand
1991	Group Stage	Won vs Argentina Lost vs Australia, Samoa
1995	Group Stage	Won vs Japan Lost vs Ireland, New Zealand
1999	Quarter Finalists	Won vs Argentina, Japan Lost vs Samoa, Argentina
2003	Quarter Finalists	Won vs Canada, Italy, Tonga Lost vs New Zealand, England
2007	Group Stage	Won vs Canada, Japan Lost vs Australia, Fiji
2011	Fourth	Won vs Fiji, Ireland, Namibia, Samoa Lost vs South Africa, France, Australia
2015	Quarter Finalists	Won vs England, Fiji, Uruguay Lost vs Australia, South Africa

Overall record: Played 37, Won 21, Lost 16

 

RWC 2019 SCHEDULE

Wales have a very satisfying draw, and a highly reliving one compared to that of RWC 2015. Despite it being gentle in comparison the Welsh have not been given a favorable match schedule. They will play their four matches in two slots of short turnarounds. These two slots are both organized as such according to dates and geography.

The first slot will see Wales opening against Georgia on day four of the tournament. The match will be in Toyota  six days before game two against Australia in Tokyo. This will require a medium range trip of just over 300 km.

For the second slot Wales are to face Fiji and Uruguay on Kyushu island. The first of these will be in Oita, 950 km south of Tokyo. It is to fall ten days after the potential pool deciding fixture against the Wallabies but just four days before the final pool match against Uruguay in Kumamoto.

The close proximity of 140 km between Oita and Kumamoto simplifies the task for Wales. But with Fiji being a very strong side in 2019 and the Welsh roster having genuine depth it is highly likely that two vastly different teams will face Fiji, and Uruguay. A similar one to that which will face Australia is likely to take-on Fiji with the reserves then to have starts against Los Teros.

DATE	OPPONENT	VENUE
Mon, Sept 23	Georgia	Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Sun, Sept 29	Australia	Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo
Wed, Oct 9	Fiji	Oita Stadium, Oita
Sun, Oct 13	Uruguay	Kumamoto Stadium, Kumamoto

 

PREDICTED TRAVELING 31

Forwards: Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Bath), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons), Thomas Young (Wasps)

Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), George North (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Saracens)

 

PREDICTED MATCH DAY 23

1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (capt.), 5 Adam Beard, 6 Josh Navidi, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Toby Faletau, 9 Gareth Davies, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 11 Josh Adams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Jonathan Davies, 14 George North, 15 Liam Williams

Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Leigh Halfpenny

 

Key Back: George North
Key Forward: Josh Navidi
Talisman: Jonathan Davies

 

RWC 2019 PREDICTION

Wales were automatic qualifiers for RWC 2019. They earned the right to compete in Japan 2019 by finishing in the top three of their pool in RWC 2015. Not only did they achieve this but they did so by defeating England in London with a depleted roster.

In the years between RWCs 2015 and 2019 Wales has risen to no 2 in the world rankings and is currently on a 14-match winning-streak, Wales’ the biggest of all-time. Head Coach Warren Gatland took Wales to the Six Nations Grand Slam this year while from 2016-2018 his side defeated all teams they faced at least once aside from New Zealand.

In Japan 2019 Wales will defeat Australia, Fiji, Georgia, and Uruguay. This will see them winning Pool D and advancing to the Quarter Finals to face the runner-up of Pool C. This team is presently projected as being Argentina.

Wales would be favorites to win the above projected Quarter Final fixture and would thereby advance to the Semi Finals with the projected opponent being South Africa. Despite rankings the Springboks would be favorites to win which would see Wales eliminated in the Semi Finals to play in the Bronze Final.

Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa