|
Our Personal Rugby Adventures
What are you doing for the world cup? Got a grandstand going on? Touring to NZ? Biggest barbie ever?
Warburton Still Waiting For a Slice of Luck 14 views 0 Images
12 December 2012 by Englandfan
See all
|
| |
How things have changed for Wales. A seventh straight Test defeat, continued descent down the world rankings and a resultant tough World Cup draw represents a fall from grace for the reigning Six Nations Grand Slam winners who so lit up last year’s World Cup.
No player characterises this change in fortunes more than captain, Sam Warburton does. The golden boy of Welsh – and northern hemisphere – rugby has had his high points in the last 12 months, but things have generally not improved since his spear tackle on Vincent Clerc in the World Cup semi -final.
That agonising narrow defeat by France set the tone for a series of near misses and the skipper has struggled to regain the form that inspired his team in New Zealand, much to the chagrin of fans who wagered their free bets on the Reds.
He was the public face of a contented, clean-living squad that put the antics of the England party to shame; now, he leads a team indelibly associated with failure against the southern hemisphere giants and a general lack of mental toughness.
Injuries and a lack of club form have affected Warburton and his struggles saw him left out for the defeat by Samoa.
The case made by Justin Tipuric this season did not make this a totally unexpected decision, but Warburton suggested against Australia that the rest has freshened him up ahead of what is sure to be a particularly hard-fought Six Nations campaign.
The 24-year-old has too much class not to regain his best form and it is telling that he is still the favourite in the rugby odds to lead the British and Irish Lions Down Under. If Wales do hit form this winter, Warburton will be leading the way.
|
|
|
Tags:
|
|
No image available
|
|
|
|
|
|