{"id":291857,"date":"2023-09-30T14:50:07","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T14:50:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=291857"},"modified":"2023-09-30T14:50:07","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T14:50:07","slug":"wales-world-cup-bread-and-butter-is-effort-and-hard-work-says-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-union\/wales-world-cup-bread-and-butter-is-effort-and-hard-work-says-coach\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales\u2019 World Cup \u2018bread and butter\u2019 is effort and hard work says coach"},"content":{"rendered":"
Wales have already secured quarter-final qualification <\/p>\n
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Mike Forshaw has described effort and hard work as Wales\u2019 \u201cbread and butter\u201d as they build towards the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Wales were the first team to secure last-eight status, which they achieved following a record 40-6 victory over Pool C rivals Australia.<\/p>\n
Japan or Argentina now await them in the knockout phase, although their one remaining group game against Georgia in Nantes next Saturday will see them guaranteed to progress as group winners if they triumph.<\/p>\n
While Wales have scored 11 tries in the tournament so far, their defence \u2013 Forshaw\u2019s specialist area \u2013 has been a dominant factor.<\/p>\n
They have made 506 tackles in three matches, while four players \u2013 Jac Morgan, Gareth Thomas, Will Rowlands and Taulupe Faletau \u2013 are all among the competition\u2019s top 20, individually.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of tackling practice haven\u2019t we?\u201d Wales assistant coach Forshaw said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have got to give the boys a bit of credit. I think at the weekend (against Australia), the first 20 minutes was up to around 75 tackles, compared with Australia\u2019s 20-odd.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes we are going to have to defend, we are going to be under the pump.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand that in this competition because there are good teams, but I would like to see us playing a bit more, having a bit more even-stevens of a game where we get a bit more time to express ourselves with the ball.<\/p>\n
\nWe have to work hard and that is the bread and butter for us at the moment<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cBut when we have not got the ball, it is about that switch of transition and how good we can be. I always say the defence is the start of our attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing I like coaching is effort. We have to work hard and that is the bread and butter for us at the moment. These lads have been brilliant.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are under 10 penalties (conceded) in this game and you are under 10 turnovers (conceded), you more or less win the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were accurate, but I don\u2019t want to get too carried away. We have got to repeat that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wales\u2019 players have returned to the training pitch following four days off and all attention is now on Georgia, a team that toppled them in Cardiff last November.<\/p>\n
Whether head coach Warren Gatland makes changes remains to be seen, but it cannot be ruled out as Wales prepare for the World Cup\u2019s business-end.<\/p>\n
Forshaw added: \u201cThe last couple of days, I\u2019ve watched their (Georgia\u2019s) games and I think they can be dangerous.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they throw the ball around well. They\u2019ve got a very dangerous full-back. They have some heavy forwards around set-pieces. They get into your five-metre channel.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is how we manage that game. We won\u2019t be taking them lightly, that is for sure.<\/p>\n
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\n<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got a selection meeting on Sunday evening. I\u2019ve got a couple of ideas, I\u2019m sure that Warren has got a couple of ideas and some of the other staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m totally honest with you, I\u2019m not sure on that question on what we will do with the team, but one thing is for sure, we will be a strong team.\u201d<\/p>\n