Wales look to Australia after South Africa defeat

Well, it was not arsenic bad arsenic galore feared.

Most Welsh observers earlier nan crippled against South Africa would astir apt person taken a 28-point conclusion inflicted by nan world champions.

It is an indictment of nan dire existent authorities of Welsh rugby connected and and disconnected nan section that a seventh successive world nonaccomplishment is wide accepted and considered inevitable.

Warren Gatland's broadside astatine slightest defied astir pre-match predictions by making it a title until 2 precocious Springbok scores confirmed nan 41-13 victory.

Wales' database of absentees - players either injured, unavailable aliases rested - ran comfortably into double figures and they were expected to suffer a crushing defeat.

South Africa struggled to enforce themselves connected a first outing since retaining nan World Cup 8 months agone but still won nan 2nd half 27-0.

Gatland now prepares to sanction his squad connected Monday that will alert retired to Australia connected Wednesday. So what has he learned?

Not for nan first clip pinch Gatland's broadside complete nan past mates of years, it was difficult to recognise an effective attacking game-plan.

There is presently nary noticeable personality successful nan violative strategy and a worrying deficiency of productivity connected display.

One effort from an opportunist portion of play by Dewi Lake was each Wales had to show for their efforts.

South Africa's onslaught often recovered themselves connected nan extracurricular of nan Welsh defence but Wales grounded to trial nan Springboks enough.

Wales' astir effective maneuver were nan precocious kicks aimed towards nan returning Liam Williams connected nan correct helping arsenic he reminded group of his outstanding aerial ability.

Fly-half Sam Costelow was nan designer of those kicks but he is still striving to found himself arsenic nan main attacking conductor wrong nan system.

Mason Grady was handed nan starting inside-centre position for nan first clip successful his master profession arsenic Wales attempted different new-look midfield business pinch Owen Watkin extracurricular him.

Other options are astatine Wales' disposal pinch Ben Thomas, Eddie James and Nick Tompkins waiting connected nan sidelines but Grady's imaginable and powerfulness crippled is an attraction.

With Wales looking for akin occurrence successful nan modulation that Jamie Roberts made 16 years ago, it is early days to opportunity Grady successful nan number 12 jersey did not work.

But Wales are still striving to eek nan astir retired of Grady's talents because his beingness attributes should guarantee he is an world success. If utilised correctly.

Whether that happens successful this existent experiment, successful his much favoured extracurricular centre position aliases giving Grady a much roaming domiciled from nan wing, Wales person to lick this conundrum.

Wales mightiness person lacked invention but erstwhile they needed inspiration, that was provided by skipper Lake.

The 25-year-old, who missed nan Six Nations because of a hamstring injury, demonstrated his earthy powerfulness and physicality against nan Springboks.

"He was exceptional successful position of nan measurement he played and led nan team," said Gatland.

"I thought he showed what he is tin of doing, and I would for illustration to deliberation he is only going to get amended arsenic a subordinate and a leader."

With flanker Jac Morgan ruled retired of nan summertime circuit done injury, Lake and Exeter fastener Dafydd Jenkins - who led Wales during nan Six Nations - are nan 2 options to skipper nan broadside successful Australia.

"We'll person a deliberation astir that erstwhile we finalise nan squad," said Gatland

"I'll talk pinch nan different coaches earlier we denote that connected Monday."

Lake's fittingness is captious pinch rookie Cardiff hookers Evan Lloyd and Efan Daniel group to circuit alongside him.

Ryan Elias is being rested, Elliot Dee is injured, while Sam Parry near nan squad of his ain accord aft being unhappy with nan measurement he was treated by Gatland.

Wales are short of knowledgeable world hookers and a deficiency of fresh tight-head props is besides a awesome concern.

There were already doubts complete Dillon Lewis and Henry Thomas earlier Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti was forced disconnected pinch an wounded astatine Twickenham and replaced by Harri O'Connor.

"The aesculapian squad are going to reassess that and spot wherever each those players are," said Gatland.

"There are a mates of players pinch backmost issues and Henry pinch a ft problem.

"We conscionable request to make judge that appraisal gets done truthful we tin person a clear image of wherever we deliberation immoderate of them are."

Leon Brown is already connected nan semipermanent casualty database which leaves inexperienced options for illustration O'Connor, Archie Griffin and Ben Warren.

Gareth Thomas impressed connected nan loose-head but nan continued absence of his erstwhile Ospreys team-mate Nicky Smith remains a baffling oversight.

Forward concerns proceed into nan 2nd statement pinch locks Adam Beard, Teddy Williams and Rhys Davies injured and Will Rowlands rested for nan summertime programme.

Exeter brace Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza were unavailable against South Africa because nan lucifer fell extracurricular World Rugby's world window, though they will beryllium disposable against Australia.

So Dragons duo Ben Carter and Matthew Screech, successful his first Test start, were near to look World Cup-winning brace Frans Malherbe and Eben Etzebeth.

Gatland believes they were not overawed while flanker Taine Plumtree besides disrupted nan Springboks line-out.

"I thought they acquitted themselves really well. It was a monolithic situation for them and a large measurement up for those two," said Gatland.

"Ben put himself astir nan spot physically and put successful a mates of bully tackles."

Wales should besides beryllium capable to telephone connected nan services of Cory Hill successful Australia aft nan recalled fastener recovers from a calf injury.

"He's been running, we could person risked him retired location but it wasn't happening," said Gatland.

"There's nary constituent successful him breaking down, he conscionable needed a fewer other days."

As Wales hole for nan 12,000 miles trip, Gatland says he is fresh to transportation nan pressure of his worst losing run.

This latest Test conclusion was nan seventh successful a statement for Wales, their longest agelong since losing 8 successive games betwixt 2012 and 2013.

Gatland proved a celebrated fig during his first Wales stint betwixt 2008 and 2019 erstwhile he delivered Grand Slams and World Cup semi-finals.

Since coming backmost for a 2nd stint to switch Wayne Pivac successful December 2022, nan scenery is much challenging pinch scrutiny connected nan New Zealander increasing.

There person been six wins and 13 losses successful 19 games truthful acold pinch a World Cup quarter-final spot nan highlight.

Wales person not won an world since beating Georgia successful October 2023. They now look nan Wallabies successful Sydney connected July 6 and Melbourne 7 days later.

Gatland is finalising his squad for that situation which will not see hooker Parry, whose departure from nan set-up has raised questions astir nan man-management skills of nan caput coach.

History is besides against Wales. The Wallabies mightiness beryllium successful modulation themselves aft nan assignment of Joe Schmidt to switch Eddie Jones pursuing a disastrous World Cup campaign.

But Australia has not proved a happy hunting crushed for Wales pinch nary triumph against nan Wallabies successful their ain state since 1969.

So a triumph successful 1 of nan 2 Tests is essential. Not only to easiness nan unit connected nan Wales coach but besides to assistance this ailing rugby nation.