Wild Celebrations But Wales Face Reality Check

In nan end, successful nan moment, it was conscionable each astir nan triumph for Wales.

There were chaotic celebrations astatine nan Principality Stadium arsenic replacement fly-half Jarrod Evans stepped up to footwear nan match-winning punishment against Japan.

The elation and alleviation was evident arsenic Evans was mobbed by his team-mates pinch nan players reacting arsenic if they had won a awesome tournament, while caput coach Steve Tandy and head of rugby Dave Reddin embraced.

There were stories of supporters among nan 61,000 crowd successful tears astatine a triumph snatched from nan jaws of defeat.

The utmost emotion demonstrated really uncommon a Welsh triumph is these days - particularly successful Cardiff - arsenic Wales ended a grounds tally of 10 successive location Test defeats that stretched backmost to August 2023.

"It's a load disconnected our backs," said Tandy aft his first triumph arsenic Wales boss.

"We don't talk astir it, but it does beryllium there. That load of not winning present for much than 2 years, it's immense for them.

"You spot nan boys and what it means. The support was incredible, nan ambiance was amazing."

The contiguous guidance has produced an absorbing statement connected societal media, pinch immoderate labelling it complete nan apical and others saying they should savour nan win.

The scenes were understandable fixed this was only a 2nd triumph successful 21 Tests, pinch immoderate of these players having ne'er earlier knowledgeable a Wales location win.

Once nan euphoria dies down, nan acold difficult facts are that Wales were very fortunate to person beaten Japan by 1 point.

Wales players and fans were celebrating this feat connected nan aforesaid time England defeated New Zealand and Ireland managed a grounds triumph against Australia.

Wales demonstrated why they are battling pinch Japan for 12th spot successful nan world rankings and not competing pinch nan world's apical 10.

This was different sub-standard display, pinch Wales remaining miles disconnected nan gait earlier welcoming nan All Blacks and world champions South Africa to Cardiff successful nan adjacent fortnight.

Japan had double nan number of carries and forced Wales to make almost 100 much tackles than nan visitors.

The Brave Blossoms were nan much awesome squad connected show, though caput coach Eddie Jones avoided a mates of attempts to opportunity that afterwards.

"The only point anybody ever remembers is nan scoreboard," said Jones. "That tells nan communicative and is each that matters."

Jones has suffered erstwhile defeats successful Cardiff inflicted by superior Welsh sides and has close-up knowledge of nan existent squad, having played them 3 times this year.

"Having spoken to a fewer people, nan large point Wales has to look astatine is nan improvement system," said Jones.

"Coaches tin only coach nan players they person sewage and Wales for a agelong play of clip had a beardown and reliable squad nether Warren Gatland.

"It is evident nan young players person not been developed capable aliases arsenic quickly arsenic you would like, because now you person a spread successful nan team."

Jones believes Wales tin return to rugby's apical table.

"There are plentifulness of bully players successful Wales," said Jones.

"Wales is 1 of nan accepted hotbeds of rugby successful nan world, albeit it's a mini country.

"If they tin amended nan improvement pathway and get that right, Wales will get its spot backmost successful rugby."

Kind words but that prediction presently seems a agelong measurement disconnected based connected Saturday's dire display.

Tandy is only successful his 2nd crippled successful complaint and has had conscionable 3 weeks pinch his squad.

They demonstrated resilience by beating Japan but Tandy recognised capacity levels request to amended markedly.

"It's frustrating arsenic I cognize what this group tin be," said Tandy.

"There's tons to emotion astir them and monolithic pridefulness but I was expecting much successful our performance.

"We request to adhd a ruthless nature. There's a batch of bully successful our game, but we request much and to beryllium much consistent.

"So I cognize there'll beryllium disappointment pinch nan performance."

Wales were pedestrian successful onslaught arsenic they grounded to break down 13 men successful nan first half.

The hosts besides lacked subject pinch a 20-minute reddish paper fixed to helping Josh Adams for a vulnerable clearout.

Tandy labelled that determination harsh but nan incident occurred a week aft Ben Thomas was sin-binned for kicking retired astatine Argentina flanker Pablo Matera.

"We've played 40 minutes pinch 14 men, it'll drawback up pinch you," said Tandy.

"We besides gave distant immoderate sloppy penalties from kick-offs. Discipline is thing we tin power overmuch better."

However poorly Wales performed, nan triumph gave Tandy his first triumph and secured a top-12 spot successful nan world rankings earlier nan 2027 World Cup excavation tie is made successful December.

There were besides a mates of encouraging individual performances arsenic number 8 Olly Cracknell was named player-of-the-match successful his first start, while flanker Alex Mann produced a move show successful nan 7 garment near vacant by nan wounded to skipper Jac Morgan.

Fly-half Dan Edwards showed glimpses of his talents, while Wales had its ain location hero.

Evans stepped disconnected nan chair successful nan 79th infinitesimal to switch Edwards and triumph nan game.

"As a kicker passim your career, you get a batch of shots astatine extremity but very fewer times do you person moments for illustration that," erstwhile Wales fly-half James Hook told nan Scrum V podcast.

"Big-pressure kicks pinch seconds to spell to triumph nan game, particularly for your country.

"For Jarrod to measurement up and nail that kick, aft conscionable being connected nan transportation hardly a fewer minutes, it's immense in installments to him."

New Zealand will get successful Wales smarting from a conclusion against England astatine Twickenham which ended hopes of completing a expansive slam of wins against nan location unions.

The All Blacks will purpose to decorativeness their play connected a winning note, while Wales will pursuit a first triumph against New Zealand since 1953.

"We won't hit nan All Blacks aliases South Africa but we tin dream for a amended performance," said Hook.

"It was a measurement backmost from Argentina what we saw Wales nutrient against Japan."

Former Wales number 8 Gareth Delve gave a stark warning.

"It is harm limitation complete nan adjacent 2 weeks and nan boys are going to person to show immoderate character," said Delve.

So nan connection is clear. Do not expect to spot nan aforesaid chaotic celebrations successful Cardiff adjacent weekend.

Unless Wales tin execute nan unthinkable and hit nan All Blacks for nan first clip successful 72 years. Then we really would witnesser immoderate Saturday celebrations.