Welsh fringe players may have missed their World Cup chance
Wales’ defensive coach Shaun Edwards suggested that some of the Welsh fringe players who were given an opportunity to claim a place in the World Cup squad next year, may miss out after a dreadful display against Fiji.
Wales drew 16-16 against the Pacific Islanders and Edwards believes that the performance by players, who are on the verge of a place in the squad, could ultimately cost them a World Cup place.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland rested some of his first team players for the Test at the Millennium Stadium, and a misfiring Wales were not good enough to beat Fiji.
Wales play New Zealand on Saturday 27 November and they are expected to field a strong team for the match.
Edwards believes that the Fiji Test was the last chance for a number of players to show Gatland that they should be included in his squad. Speaking to the press, Edwards said, "It was a last chance really to look at players before the World Cup, there's
no other time to do it. Some were rusty and probably they'll look back and think 'I had a chance and I probably didn't take it'."
The defence coach stated that the display against Fiji was not good enough, "We're judged as a team and there's no doubt that as a unit, as a team, [against Fiji] we didn't come up to our expectations, and the expectations of the Welsh people."
Edwards also criticised the team’s performances throughout the Autumn Internationals and blamed the players' lack of ball retention in key areas, for a number of the results. "Obviously turning the ball over was a huge problem for us and yet another try
from a turnover, it's what has probably killed us in this series so far.”
Wales will hope that they can record their first win of the series against the All Blacks, who have won all their games on tour so far. "Our minds are already on next week if I'm being honest, we know what's coming next Saturday and we're getting ready for
that," said Edwards.
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