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All time top try-scorer and Welsh rugby legend Shane Williams has weighed in on Wales’ chances ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which is due to kick-off in France on Friday September 8.
It’s been a disappointing year for the Welsh squad to say the least; finishing fifth in the Six Nations with just one win – before an even worse summer losing to neighbours England 19-17 and suffering a 52-16 drubbing to South Africa.
Despite that however, Williams, who retired from international rugby in 2011, says the squad have “no excuses” ahead of their opener against an in-form Fiji side on Sunday September 10.
Speaking to Caerphilly Observer he said: “I fly out to Bordeaux on Friday to cover the game and I’ve got to say it’s not the ideal opener for us.
“You’re playing a team who are full of confidence and full of superstars in Fiji. They’ll certainly be an outfit to contend with who many are tipping as outsiders to win the tournament.”
As well as high-flyers Fiji, who recently beat England, Wales also face Portugal, Australia, and Georgia in group C, with only the top two sides progressing to the knockout stages of the competition.
The last time the World Cup was held in France, Wales fell to an infamous 38-34 defeat to the Fijians to crash out at the group stage.
Who is in Warren Gatland’s 33-man squad?
Forwards
- Taine Basham (Dragons)
- Adam Beard (Ospreys)
- Elliot Dee (Dragons)
- Corey Domachowski (Cardiff)
- Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
- Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff)
- Tomas Francis (Provence)
- Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs)
- Dewi Lake (Ospreys)
- Dillon Lewis (Harlequins)
- Dan Lydiate (Dragons)
- Jac Morgan (Ospreys)
- Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers)
- Will Rowlands (Dragons)
- Nicky Smith (Ospreys)
- Gareth Thomas (Ospreys)
- Henry Thomas (Montpellier)
- Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
- Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Backs
- Josh Adams (Cardiff)
- Gareth Anscombe (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath)
- Dan Biggar (Toulon)
- Sam Costelow (Scarlets)
- Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
- Rio Dyer (Dragons)
- Mason Grady (Cardiff)
- Leigh Halfpenny (unattached)
- George North (Ospreys)
- Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester)
- Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
- Johnny Williams (Scarlets)
- Liam Williams (Kubota Spears)
- Tomos Williams (Cardiff)
Speaking more generally about Wales’ chances this summer, Williams added: “I’m hoping the Welsh team are prepared, they’ve trained really hard I know having spoken to players and coach Gatland. There are no excuses.
“I’m rooting for the lads however and of course I’m backing them. Everyone’s looking forward to it and I can’t wait for it to get started.”
Should Wales advance from the group, one of England, Argentina, Japan, Samoa or Chile await in the quarter-finals.
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