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Wales Are Exactly Where We Planned To Be, Says Huw Bennett

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By David Williams

Taulupe Faletau may have been ruled out of the World Cup, but Wales’ head of physical performance Huw Bennett is hopeful everybody else will be available for selection for this weekend’s quarter-final against Argentina in Marseille.

Gareth Anscombe was forced to miss the final pool win over Georgia after getting injured in the warm-up, while Liam Williams left the field early to protect a leg injury.

Dan Biggar was brought onto the bench, but remained unused as he continued to recover from his shoulder injury.

“The boys are recovering well. Liam was on crutches after the game but that was just a precaution. Gareth is also recovering well and, as far as I’m aware, everyone is available for selection,” said Bennett.

“Everyone is in good spirits. Getting 19 points from our group and topping the table meant the boys are very happy with what they have accomplished.

“Now they are ready for the challenge of a quarter-final. Everything has been geared to getting to this spot, so everyone is just relishing it.”

“This is what it’s all about. We got together on 25 May and it gets commented on a lot about the odd places we’ve been to in training.

“That tends to come out in the changing room before a game, a reminder of all the hard work that’s been put in.

“This week isn’t just about what we are going to be doing on Saturday, when everyone will be giving everything they’ve got, it’s about the small things throughout the week.

“We want to ensure all that hardwork and effort, all the sacrifices that have been put in during the camps and build-up, are made to count.”

Bennett knows a thing or two about preparing for World Cups, having been a player at three tournaments and a coach at two more before 2023.

He started in the 2011 quarter-final win over Ireland in 2011 and helped Wales reach the last eight at both the 2015 and 2019 competitions as a coach.

He made nine appearances at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Cups and is among the most experienced campaigners in the Welsh camp – even topping Warren Gatland’s five tournaments.

“You want to get this week just right. Earlier on in the group stages you have a mindset that you don’t go away from your DNA, what and who you are – a team that works hard and gets the benefits from it,” added Bennett.

“You can’t just totally back off or you risk losing what is your DNA. It’s about getting the balance right and making sure everyone is firing going into the weekend.

“This is my sixth World Cup in a row, and it’s been great. I think we’ve got the balance just right in terms of moving around France, we haven’t been in one place too long and we haven’t moved too much.”

Wales will face Argentina at Stade Velodrome on Saturday, with a semi-final clash with either New Zealand or Ireland at stake for the winners.

Wales have played the Pumas twice before at the World Cup and won both – 1991 (16-7) and 1999 (23-18) – in Cardiff.

“Argentina are a big physical team, full of passion. They have got some X-factor players as well,” said Bennett.

“It’s something the guys have been looking into already. I feel they are not dissimilar to some of the teams we played against in the build-up, but they will bring a bit more as well, so we’ll have to be on point there.

“Physicality has been a strength of ours. It is a challenge we will be relishing.”

Kieran Hardy has been flown out to replace Faletau, who broke his arm against Georgia, and Bennett has no worries about him fitting into the group.

“Kieran was a part of the original training group back in late May when we had all the camps. We’ve been keeping tabs on all the players who were on the short-list to make sure they are good to go when they come in,” he said.

“We know Kieran is a great professional and he will fit in straight away. Losing Taulupe is massive for us because he is a big character.

“After the game last weekend, we were happy for the victory, the points difference, but losing Taulupe put a bit of a sobering stamp on it.

“A couple of people were probably kicking themselves as before the game they said we’d been lucky with injuries, but it happens.

“We’re lucky in that we feel the strength in depth in the squad is good.”

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