Records Are There To Be Broken (Unless It’s Wales’ Record Of Defeats To The All Blacks)

The Georgians are coming, the All Blacks are not far behind, and the injuries are mounting. Robin Davey is even more agitated than usual, although at least he didn’t get wet queuing to get in to the Wallabies game.

 

Wales may be hosting Georgia on Saturday in a game that has a lot going for it, but the spectre of the All Blacks is looming.

It’s gratifying the Welsh Rugby Union have granted Georgia an opportunity to showcase their talents at this level, for they have long been pressing their case for inclusion in the Six Nations tournament, though quite how they can be accommodated is another matter.

Georgia further advanced their cause by hammering Canada last weekend and their renowned forward power will provide an expected much-changed Welsh team with a pretty thorough examination.

And on the Welsh front, Warren Gatland has promised to give young players an opportunity to show what they can do, a process started last week against Australia, even if that was far too late in the day in the opinion of many.

But, despite the intriguing possibilities surrounding the Georgia game, the All Blacks hit town again next week to lock horns with what used to be the old enemy, promising to further dent the most unwanted record in Wales’ history.

For Wales have lost the last 29 fixtures against the All Blacks stretching all the way back to 1953. That was just one of three victories Wales have achieved over the All Blacks, the others coming in 1935 and 1905.

Since then it’s been completely one-sided and no doubt Steve Hansen will enjoy another return to Wales to put one over the country he used to coach.

Any lingering Welsh hopes of bringing an end to that depressing run of results suffered a body blow with the serious injury suffered by leading centre Jonathan Davies which has ruled him out of the Six Nations tournament next year, never mind the rest of the autumn series.

He needs an operation on the foot he damaged in the final moments of the Australia game, and his absence leaves a gaping hole in the Welsh backline. Scot Williams is the favourite to fill it, but there is no doubt Davies will be sorely missed.

Given that Wales lost to Australia for the 13th time in a row last Saturday to further extend another unwanted run – the 15th year in a row they have been beaten in their opening game of the autumn series – there will be considerable interest in the Georgia match.

Gatland followed his Lions scenario when he employed a footballing 10-12 axis of Johnny Sexton and Owen Farrell by putting Owen Williams at 12 alongside Dan Biggar against the Wallabies.

He seems sure to follow suit on Saturday and is likely to give starts to Ospreys centre Owen Watkin and Dragons tight head prop Leon Brown, as well as persevering with Owen Williams.

Gatland has finally abandoned the crash-ball style (don’t call it Warrenball!) which became so predictable in favour of a more expansive approach and the Welsh public are far more encouraged as a result.

But off the field, something has to be done about the fiasco which led to many thousands being left outside the ground well after the match against Australia started.

The WRU insist that, due to extra security measures introduced as a result of a greater risk, all ticket holders were warned to allow extra time to get into the Principality Stadium.

They were advised to arrive as much as two hours before kick-off, but clearly scant attention was paid to the advice with the result that a host of complaints were received by wet, frustrated fans.

Yet there were no such problems at Twickenham, Murrayfield or the Aviva Stadium where other matches were held which begs the question, why weren’t more stewards employed in Cardiff to alleviate any problems?

Yet another reason why attention will quickly focus on the game against the All Blacks next week.

 

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