Wales arrived at Twickenham depleted by injuries – and the casualty list only lengthened in the second half of the game – yet they still had enough strength to become the first northern hemisphere side to beat England in a World Cup group stage match and the first in the northern hemisphere tournament. “We’re fully aware of that”, Edwards said, drawing a line under the momentous 28-25 victory. We can’t be sitting feeling sorry for ourselves, we’ve got to roll our sleeves up and get stuck in.
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“Another thing that impressed me massively was Fiji when they played England was the scrum”.
Indiscipline kept the Welsh in the game and eventually saw them grasp the lead through a Biggar penalty with six minutes remaining, having already drawn level throud Davies’ try under the posts.
“We feel like we have let a lot of people down in the way we did not close out the game”. We discussed it in the changing room after the game.
“It was a reverse of Cardiff”.
Injuries to centre Scott Williams and winger Hallam Amos were the most pressing concerns for Wales, which was also considering a citing for the injury to fullback Liam Williams in the dramatic Rugby World Cup win over England at Twickenham.
“It was right by the touchline so it’s a very hard kick”, said Haskell. We went for the win.
“Wales defended it very well”.
A famous 28-25 victory over tournament hosts England has put the Welsh on the verge of sealing their progression from a tough Pool A.
In two matches Fiji have conceded 24 penalties, had three players yellow-carded and flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu has been suspended for a week after admitting to a unsafe tip tackle on England’s Jonny May.
“It is not over for us by any stretch of the imagination”, said Haskell.
Speaking about how the team would tackle Australia, he said: “We’ve gotta go and get the players believing, not just believing, but determined to prove and take the frustration and bottle the frustration that’s obviously inside everyone from losing a game we should’ve won and putting it in into this Australian performance and that’s it. End of”. We weighed up the options, we wanted to go for the win.
“He is one of the best in the whole world and the staff underneath him work their socks off as well”.
England, who led 22-12 early in the second half against Wales, have been criticised for the ill-discipline that allowed Dan Biggar to kick his side back into contention. The bonus point win against Fiji on game-day one could be pivotal for England, it’s knock out rugby from here on out.
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It means England will now have to beat Australia next weekend if they are to have any chance of advancing, but hooker Youngs is staying confident. “Then we will reassess, gather our thoughts and focus again”.
