Wales should be proud, but its winners we want to be - Byrne

Talking Rugby Union's World Cup pundit Lee Byrne discusses where the problems lie for Wales against the Southern Hemisphere teams as well as his predication for the rest of the tournament.

Former full-back Lee Byrne said that the word “proud” is rightly being used for Wales’ performances at the World Cup, but they must now become winners after their recent 23-19 quarter-final defeat to South Africa.

Wales led 13-12 at half-time but a try from Fourie du Preez with five minutes to go ended their World Cup dream.

Once again, Wales were narrowly edged out by a Southern Hemisphere team making it 28 losses in their last 30 against teams from the other side of the globe.

“The word proud keeps cropping up over and over again, but its winners we want to be,” said Byrne.

“We don’t seem to have that mental edge when we come up against Southern Hemisphere teams. We can keep on saying we are proud, but we are proud losers.

“When it comes to big games, injuries a side, we had chances to still beat Australia and even on the weekend they had chances to win. Wales can take some credit for that, but again it’s the same old story against Southern Hemisphere teams and the record goes on.”

Throughout the whole World Cup process, Wales have suffered a huge amount of injuries. They lost a trio of big names in Jonathan Davies, full-back Leigh Halfpenny and scrum-half Rhys Webb to long-term injuries before the tournament even began.

Then, Cory Allen and Scott Williams were both forced on to the treatment table with Hallam Amos joining them.

Liam Williams was then injured against Australia and Gareth Anscombe is now out for two months with an ankle injury.

Byrne insists they cannot use these injuries as an excuse for their defeat to South Africa as Wales now begin to plan for the future whether that is with Warren Gatland in charge or not. 

While Gatland has another four years on his contract, other members of his backroom staff including Shaun Edwards and Robin McBryde are out of contract at the end of the World Cup with coach Rob Howley's current deal expiring in 2016.

Byrne said: “It will be interesting to see if Warren does decide to stay and whether he thinks he has taken the team has far has he can.” 

“He has a great record of Grand Slams and in the Six Nations and it’s great to win a European crown, but he just hasn’t quite mastered playing against the Southern Hemisphere sides.

“It is no secret that him and his backroom staff want nothing more than to beat the Southern Hemisphere.

“In terms of the backroom staff, it will be interesting to see if they continue with him or not. I’m sure that will be decided over the next couple of months before the Six Nations. I don’t think there will be any rash changes straight away.”

That dominance for the Southern Hemisphere sides doesn’t just apply to Wales. Along with Warren Gatand’s side, France, Ireland and Scotland all lost in the quarter-finals meaning we have an all-Southern Hemisphere semi-final line up for the first time in the history of the Rugby World Cup.

And Byrne feels that the success the Southern nations are having could be down to their self-belief and the way the game is played in the Southern Hemisphere.

He added: “It could well be down to the mentality and the standard of rugby they play in the Rugby Championship at the moment.

“You saw what Argentina did to Ireland on the weekend and they have only being in the Rugby Championship for a couple of years now and their game has risen. The tempo and the intensity is just so much different and we as a hemisphere need to work on that.”

Argentina’s reward for beating Ireland is a semi-final against Australia on Sunday with the World Champions New Zealand facing Wales’ conquerors South Africa the day before.

And Byrne says you can’t really look past the best two sides in the Southern Hemisphere to make the final.

“Argentina have been excellent. In their first game against New Zealand, everyone was saying the All Blacks look off the pace and we realise now why weren’t at their best and that’s because Argentina were so good.

“I still think it will be New Zealand Australia final. Obviously Scotland were unlucky, but Australia showed that they can keep winning matches and I fancy them to make the final.

“New Zealand started to turn it on against France after cruising through their group really. When it comes to knockout rugby there is no better team than the All Blacks.”