World Cup 2023: Anscombe, a symbol of Welsh renewal | TV5MONDE

The first half Gareth Anscombe, 32 years old, who scored 23 points, Sunday in Lyon, was the great architect of Wales’ victory over Australia (40-6) in the 2023 World Cup finals, as much as he was a symbol of the team’s renewal. Which is based on the “best old people”.

We feared the worst, however, when, in the 13th minute, Dan Biggar, the star and master of the team, was hit in the chest, forcing Anscombe to make way for Anscombe, who a week earlier had joined the Wales reserves and was not very comfortable against Portugal. .

The fear was further exacerbated when the substitute missed the first goal during his first attempt to shoot on goal, even though it was within the reach of any scorer on the international scene.

“However, we saw his experience and his mentality,” said former France first-half player Yann Delejo. “Three minutes after his miss, he was the one who called for another try. A similar penalty and he took it. He took it.” the responsibility. This shows the confidence he has in himself.”

“Rusty against Portugal”

Anscombe’s party can then begin. The Suntory Sungoliaths flyhalf in Japan added five more penalties, a conversion on a Nick Tompkins try and a touchdown to close things out.

“He was a bit rusty against Portugal, his coach Warren Gatland agreed after the game. But we picked him for his experience and he controlled the game well. (…) It’s great to see him score well too. But I think he made some very good decisions as well.”

Delego agrees: “He led his team perfectly as well. He’s more than just a scorer, he’s the leader of the game, an experienced player. Against Australia, he was confident.”

As evidence of this the Australian’s action came from 22 meters out in the 48th minute, delivering the second Welsh try to central Tompkins with a small kick over the defence.

With his performance, New Zealand-born Anscombe, with whom he won the Junior World Cup in 2011, symbolizes the Welsh renaissance during the World Cup.

The average age of the squad is far from being the oldest squad in France, but Warren Gatland has created an intelligent mix of experienced players and promising youngsters.

At fly-half for example, he has his holder Biggar, 33, luxury substitute Anscombe, 32, and Sam Costello, 22, the Scarlets fly-half who embodies the future of the Leek XV.

Gatland, master of preparation

Delego agrees: “It’s a mature team. But the strength of Gatland is that we thought his form was declining. But he prepared them perfectly, as he does in every World Cup.”

Through his traditional training sessions before the start of the World Cup in Switzerland and Turkey, the New Zealand coach succeeded in getting his thirty-year-old players back on their feet. Tolubi Faletau, George North, Will Rowlands and the others arrived in France with their twenty-year-old legs.

“They are very competitive, believes DeLaigo, but I would put one caveat in: their group is the easiest. Australia was a disaster, and Fiji, who are a great team, are not an All Blacks or Ireland team.”

He prevents. With Anscombe and the “top seniors”, Wales became the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the competition.

In Marseille, he will likely face England or Argentina, who appear within his reach of reaching the semi-finals. This would have been unimaginable just a few months ago, when the Welsh side finished in a pathetic penultimate place during the Six Nations.

How far away it may seem, last February, then-captain Ken Owens – who lost out on the World Cup – lamented that Wales were “the laughingstock of world rugby”.

Old Welsh doesn’t make anyone laugh anymore.