{"id":288970,"date":"2023-09-17T09:35:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-17T09:35:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=288970"},"modified":"2023-09-17T09:35:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-17T09:35:04","slug":"wales-move-focus-on-to-australia-after-bonus-point-success-against-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/rugby-union\/wales-move-focus-on-to-australia-after-bonus-point-success-against-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Wales move focus on to Australia after bonus-point success against Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jonathan Humphreys has predicted \u201ca hell of a game\u201d when Rugby World Cup rivals Wales and Australia go head-to-head in Lyon.<\/p>\n

Top spot in Pool C could be on the line next Sunday and Wales know that objective will move closer into view if they topple the Wallabies.<\/p>\n

Australia have beaten them in five of their seven previous World Cup meetings, but bonus-point victories over Fiji and Portugal mean that Wales are in decent shape.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is going to be a hell of a game \u2013 there is going to be a lot riding on that,\u201d Wales assistant coach and forwards specialist Humphreys said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have got an eight-day turnaround, so hopefully we will have a full squad to choose from. A few boys have rested up after a tough Fiji game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be interesting to see how they come out. He (Australia head coach Eddie Jones) has always got something different in his game.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players he has available to him right now are a hell of a squad, and we are looking forward to what will be an incredibly tough match.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wales, showing 12 changes from the side that defeated Fiji, struggled to impose themselves at times against a Portugal team relishing their first World Cup appearance since 2007.<\/p>\n

But ultimately, a 28-8 success \u2013 and a bonus point collected in the dying seconds when Taulupe Faletau scored Wales\u2019 fourth try \u2013 meant it was a case of job done.<\/p>\n

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Humphreys added: \u201cWe are delighted to get 10 points from the first two games. If you had offered that to us before we came out here we would have taken your hand off.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a lot of boys who hadn\u2019t played for a while \u2013 we made a lot of changes. It was great that we got a bonus point, and they\u2019ve also got a fair bit of game-time.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first game (against Fiji) was obviously massive for us. As a squad we really came together after that game, saying \u2018it\u2019s a good start\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe support the team that played against Portugal had from the rest (of the squad) tells us the spirit is there.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in a pretty good place, but we know we need to improve and get better if we are to do the job against Australia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fitness-wise, Wales will need to run the rule over flanker Tommy Reffell and prop Henry Thomas when they arrive back at their training base in Versailles.<\/p>\n

Thomas, who has a hamstring issue, is the only player in Wales\u2019 33-strong World Cup squad not to have been involved against Fiji or Portugal.<\/p>\n

Reffell, meanwhile, was due to face Portugal but a tight calf muscle meant he withdrew during final pre-match preparations and Jac Morgan replaced him.<\/p>\n

\u201cTommy is an incredibly tough bloke, but it was the right decision,\u201d Humphreys said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was in agreement with that. If he pulled his calf, he is probably gone for the tournament. It was done as a precaution to make sure that he is not too long out.<\/p>\n

\u201cJac is incredible. He wasn\u2019t due to be involved, and the non-(matchday) 23 (including Morgan) did weights and extra-conditioning in the morning. He is an incredible player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Humphreys also highlighted Faletau\u2019s major contribution in only his second start since a calf injury meant he took no part during Wales\u2019 three World Cup warm-up Tests.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe is a massive player for us,\u201d Humphreys added. \u201cTo see him chasing back, make that (try-saving) tackle and get to his feet to go for the ball, he is a huge player and he will get better and better.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the thing about world-class players, on big moments like that they step up and do something. We are looking forward to seeing what more he can do.\u201d<\/p>\n

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