Wales Rebuilds: Insights from Rio Dyer After Disappointing Australia Tests
Image Credit: Salman Javed
Over the past two weeks, Wales has engaged in entertaining contests with Australia. Warren Gatland's team will be disappointed as the Wallabies swept them. Wales played relatively well and will feel disappointed they couldn't win in Australia. It is a young side with much potential, but it will take a few more years to develop into a title-contending team. Dragons RFC player Rio Dyer has given his thoughts on the potential of the national side.
Wales
Wales is rebuilding after many key players retired at the end of the 2023 World Cup. This meant that many young players have had to step up and fill the void left by many legends. The team has suffered a run of disappointing results since the start of the Six Nations. Wales was handed the 'wooden spoon,' a term used to describe the team that finishes last in the tournament, for the first time in over two decades. To compound this, they have missed out on victory in Australia. Patience has been preached by both players and coaches alike, as a team doesn't turn into world-beaters overnight. It will be interesting to see what Wales will look like in the autumn as the Wallabies head to Cardiff. Wales will feel they can get their revenge in the Welsh capital.
Rio Dyer's Thoughts
Dyer has been one of the bright spots in the Welsh set-up for many years. The young winger is a consistent performer for Gatland. In an interview, the 24-year-old said he was disappointed that Wales could not show how good a team they would be in the future.
"It is frustrating for a lot of us going on from the result in Sydney," said Dyer. "We were in the game at 60 minutes and then let go of it.
"It is the same thing happening. For the last two weeks, we have been working hard non-stop in training. We wanted this win, to make history as a team and go back to Wales with a win, but unfortunately, we haven't got it.
"It is trying to get that fluidity into the game, which worked well for us. That ball movement and getting width and the ball into players' hands trying to create something.
"It would be nice to do it more. Even though we have not gotten the results in the last two weeks, some of the stuff we have put together has been good.
"If we can put an 80-minute performance together, keep our discipline and not give away easy tries, we would have been able to get the two wins comfortably and prove to others we will be an excellent team.
"It is just those little errors that didn't help us throughout the game. It has been a very long season for many of us, and it feels like two seasons in one.
"Many of us haven't had too much time off and played week in and week out. Even though we have been non-stop, you can see the boys have given 100%, which shows what sort of team we are."
Quotes via Wales Online.
It'll be interesting to see how Wales bounces back after disappointment in Australia as they look to build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
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