Wales coach Warren Gatland praises his side as ‘b****y tough to beat’ as the team prepare for Georgia clash having already topped Pool C and qualified for quarter-finals

• Wales take on Georgia in their final game of the pool stages, but are already top
• 1st place is guaranteed for Wales, they will play Argentina or Japan next round
• Warren Gatland has praised his side’s positive turnaround after a difficult run 
• Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

When Warren Gatland said in the build-up to this World Cup his Wales side would ‘do something pretty special’ and ‘surprise some people’ in France, it was difficult to see that happening.

After returning for a second spell as Wales head coach, Gatland oversaw an awful Six Nations at the start of the year as his team was dogged by problems both on and off the field.

But, with such issues now put to one side, the New Zealander’s August comments have come to look almost prophetic. On Saturday, Wales are likely to seal top spot in Pool C with a win over Georgia.

‘The whole focus for this group has been about the rugby and building confidence,’ said Gatland, whose team is already in the quarter-finals after wins over Fiji, Portugal and Australia.

Warren Gatland has transformed Wales into a tough team to beat after difficult pre-World Cup

Wales are unbeaten so far in the tournament, registering wins over Australia, Fiji and Portugal 

‘They’ve worked their butts off. I couldn’t have asked more in terms of what this group of players has put into it.

‘Making a comment or statement like that is not just about what I say, it’s for the other coaches and players. 

If they go out there and implement the game plan and create that self-belief, then we know we’re a tough team to beat. That was very much the focus early on for us.

‘We didn’t talk early on about winning as a group. We talked about becoming a b****y tough team to beat and if you’re a tough team to beat, then often the performances and results take care of themselves. 

‘That’s where we are at the moment. If we give a good performance on Saturday then we can look forward to a quarter-final.’

Wales don’t even need to win against Georgia to finish top of Pool C, but they should still do so regardless given the strong side named by Gatland and the injuries in the Lelos camp.

Wales’ quarter-final opponent will be one of Argentina or Japan who are vying to finish as runners-up to England in Pool D. 

Like Wales and Georgia, the Pumas and the Brave Blossoms also meet in Nantes this weekend with that game taking place tomorrow (SUN).

Gatland has indeed made Wales tough to beat once again. His team has confidence and momentum behind them. Gatland said this week Wales are in an ‘outstanding place.’ 

It might be enough to take them to what would be a third World Cup semi-final under Gatland. 

Wales should beat Georgia and either Argentina or Japan is an eminently winnable first knock-out game.

Gatland was brought in to replace Wayne Pivac and is enjoying his second stint as head coach 

Captain and flanker Jac Morgan has been a stand-out player for Wales in this Rugby World Cup

The team has showed strong unity, and will play Argentina or Japan in the quarter-final

Like England, Gatland’s men are benefiting from being in the easier half of the draw.

Wales lost to Georgia in November last year in a result which hastened the Welsh Rugby Union’s decision to replace former head coach Wayne Pivac with a returning Gatland.

A repeat shock is unlikely. Gatland has rested captain Jac Morgan and key figures Dan Biggar and Adam Beard but Wales should still have more than enough.

Only four players who lost 13-12 to Georgia at Principality Stadium in 2022 start in Nantes.

Wales v Georgia: Pre-match facts

Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Anscombe, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Francis, Rowlands, Jenkins, Wainwright, Reffell, Faletau

Replacements: Dee, Smith, H Thomas, Tshiunza, Basham, Davies, Costelow, Grady

Georgia: Khmaladze; Tabutsadze, Kveseladze, Sharikadze (capt), Niniashvili; Matkava; Lobzhanidze; Gogichashvili, Mamukashvili, Gigashvili, Cheishvili, Mikautadze, Gachechiladze, Saginadze, Jalagonia

Replacements: Karkadze, Abuladze, Aptsiauri, Chachanidze, Tsutskiridze, Aprasidze, Abzhandadze, Tapladze

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Kick-off: 2pm, Saturday October 7

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