Warren Gatland takes a swipe at rivals moaning about lopsided Rugby World Cup draw… with Wales coach relishing favourites tag in quarter-final clash against Argentina 

• Warren Gatland has hit out at critics of the lopsided Rugby World Cup draw
• Wales are favourites to tame the Pumas in Marseille and reach the last four 
• Dan Biggar and Liam Williams named in Welsh side for quarter-final clash 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

Warren Gatland took aim at those who believe his Wales team are having an easy ride through the weaker half of this World Cup — after naming a strong and settled line-up to face Argentina.

The head coach was in his element on Thursday — bullish and combative. He was able to include Dan Biggar and Liam Williams for the quarter-final in Marseille, as both veteran Lions backs were given the all-clear following injuries. 

And having guided Wales to a perfect pool-stage return of four wins, Gatland was happy to embrace heightened pressure.

When asked if he was comfortable with his team being favourites to tame the Pumas and reach the last four, the Kiwi in charge said: ‘Absolutely.’ 

And when the lopsided draw came up for discussion, Gatland dismissed those stuck in the congested stronger half, protesting about the injustice of it all.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has hit out at critics of the lopsided Rugby World Cup draw 

Gatland’s side have managed four wins from four and take on Argentina on Saturday evening

‘I’d just say to the other teams, they should have done better in the last World Cup,’ he said, in reference to the 2019 tournament that saw Ireland and France exit at the quarter-final stage.

‘That’s where the draw comes from. It’s not our fault that it has happened. If teams had got better performances and results at the last World Cup, there would be a different draw. You didn’t hear us complaining in 2015 when we got Fiji, Australia, England and ourselves in the same pool. You are dealt a hand and you’ve just got to deal with it. I agree with the sentiment that the draw may have been done too early. It was probably done too early before 2019 as well.

‘Whether the people in control of that next time can put the pools together later, that’s up to them. We can’t change what has been done. All I can say is we are only in control of what we are doing. We are happy with the progress we’ve made, given a lot of people said we wouldn’t get out of our group. We can only play and do what is in front of us.’ 

Earlier in the year, Wales were in disarray. During the Six Nations, players were threatening strike action amid a contractual dispute and the team were losing against a backdrop of turmoil throughout the Welsh game at all levels.

Given that, it is no wonder that Gatland would be satisfied if his side can emulate their predecessors in 2019 and 2011 by earning a place in the semis.

‘It would be our third semi-final and, reflecting on that, we would be pretty proud,’ he said. ‘After all the challenges during the Six Nations, with the documentary (with allegations of sexism at the WRU) and the potential strikes and the contracts and the money with the Union and regions, as coaches we’d joke about what would be the next thing thrown at us. I definitely think there’s been a line drawn under that.’

Pointedly — knowing that a win over Argentina would set up a clash with Ireland or New Zealand — Gatland added: ‘If we can make the semi-finals, it would be a huge achievement.

Wales’ Dan Biggar returns to the side after picking up a chest injury against Australia in Lyon

‘I know there are some people and some teams who won’t want to face a Wales team when they start playing with confidence and when we start having momentum. That’s when we’re at our most dangerous. We’re starting to look that way at the moment.’

On Saturday, Wales have a strong chance of beating the Pumas, on a weekend when there could be a shift of global power from south to north. Gatland is only focused on one game, but he recognises the bigger-picture trend in the Test game.

‘The first step was all four northern hemisphere teams finishing top of their pools,’ he said. ‘That’s never happened before. It’s a real positive for the game considering how much the southern hemisphere have dominated World Cups in the past.’

As well being able to name Biggar and Williams, Gatland reacted to the loss of Taulupe Faletau — who is out of the tournament after breaking his arm — by selecting Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell at openside, with captain Jac Morgan switching to blindside and Aaron Wainwright lining up at No 8. Meanwhile, George North will become the first Welshman to play in a fourth quarter-final.

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