By Harry Corish
Nurse Meg Webb plans to keep Wales’ World Cup ambitions looking healthy this weekend after having to spend time earlier in the year making sure she herself came back to fitness.
The Wales and Bristol Bears centre – cousin to Wales and Ospreys star Rhys Webb – will be aiming to show her team have powers of recovery to withstand whatever hosts New Zealand can throw at them.
It is Wales’ second match in Pool A at the tournament Down Under, following their dramatic opening victory over Scotland and although it takes place in the early hours of Sunday morning, the whole game is being replayed in full later in the day on S4C.
Webb is usually concerned with the health of others as a student nurse, but earlier in the year it was her own well-being that needed attention when she missed the whole of the Six Nations with Glandular Fever.
Alongside rugby and a contract with the WRU, the 21-year-old has been continuing her studies at the University of South Wales, but she had to take time off when her illness struck.
It was a tough period for Webb, who had to sit on the sidelines while her teammates enjoyed a successful Six Nations campaign, finishing third behind Grand Slam champions England and France.
“At the time it was very frustrating, but you just have to accept it when you are ill,” she says.
“I had to settle for watching from the sidelines, which isn’t great. But I had to accept that my health comes first.
“Having said that, I was so proud to see the girls using the professional contracts for the best outcomes and I was so happy for them to achieve the success, because I saw all the work that was being put in behind the scenes.”
The World Cup is a welcome diversion for now, but Webb will be back combining nursing with training and playing as soon as she returns to Wales.
“I have now got three months of placement left to finish my degree and my university have been supporting me the whole time.
“When I go back. I’ll get my scrubs back on and hopefully get my degree.
“Hopefully, I can keep my rugby going as well and earn another contract. It is like Hannah Montana! I am living both lives at the moment!
Can Wales shock the hosts? Or will New Zealand prevail at Waitakere?#RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/g3nXReSoN3
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 14, 2022
“It has been a long time waiting to get into that starting jersey, but the wait pushed me to earn this position.
“The squad is packed with talent now, I am training alongside some quality players everyday and that really helps to push standards.
“In my head I had ruled myself out of the World Cup because of my health, so the call up was incredible.
“It took me a while to come to terms with it, at first, but I knew I had to give my best.”
Webb took her chance with both hands when she arrived back with a bang. But it wasn’t all easy as she went into Wales’ pre season having missed three months through illness.
“You can’t take anything for granted. It was a tough journey but I am so proud to be part of this squad.
“I have just kept myself to myself and focussed on improving myself. I came in knowing I’m not the finished article, so it was all about showing how quick I can learn and becoming the best player that I can be.
“That first month – the G. I. Jane theme of pre-season – was absolutely savage. Especially coming back from Glandular Fever and 13 weeks of nothing. I was just resting and recovering. It was brutal.”
Levels of line outs with Natalie Delamere 🎯#LikeABlackFern | #RWC2021 pic.twitter.com/hbyrj7Hg0p
— Black Ferns (@BlackFerns) October 15, 2022
Wales showed they had staying power when they edged Scotland 18-15 in that first match, but now comes a step up in class against the Black Ferns, who are second favourites to lift the trophy behind England.
Webb admits: “We started well against Scotland and we are proud of the way we managed the last 10 minutes to get ourselves back into a scoring position and earn the penalty, but we know we have to be on the ball for the full 80 on Sunday or New Zealand will punish us.”
It won’t just be the Black Ferns players, either. A noisy capacity crowd of 5,000 is expected at the Waitakere Stadium in Auckland, although Webb says Welsh fans will certainly make themselves heard.
“The country is definitely behind the tournament here but we’ve had some brilliant Welsh support, too.
“There is one group of about 50 parents and family and others who’ve travelled independently or live here.
“They definitely shouted the loudest last Sunday so it will be great to hear them again this weekend.”
S4C – Sunday: 5.15pm. Cwpan Rygbi’r Byd – Wales v New Zealand.
The whole 80 minutes of the World Cup Pool A match played in the early hours of the morning.