Gareth Anscombe has stated that Wales will be "hard on ourselves" as they face the aftermath of a disheartening 24-19 defeat to Fiji, which marked their 10th consecutive test loss. This defeat, which occurred at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, equaled a historic losing streak from 2002-2003, a period when Wales also faced setbacks against top teams like New Zealand, England, and Ireland. However, the current streak is particularly painful for the team, as they have lost to lower-ranked sides such as Italy and Fiji, which has added to the sense of frustration and disappointment.
Anscombe, who has been a key figure in the Welsh backline, emphasized that only a victory would have been acceptable in this match, especially with it being a home fixture. Despite the challenges Wales has faced over the past year, including a series of high-profile retirements and numerous injuries, Anscombe acknowledged that they could not use these as excuses. Instead, he stressed the importance of taking responsibility and ensuring they improve quickly. "This has got to hurt, and it should hurt," said Anscombe, highlighting the need for reflection and progress following another painful defeat.
Wales, once a dominant force under coach Warren Gatland with multiple Six Nations titles and two World Cup semi-final appearances, are now struggling. They have dropped to 11th in the world rankings, two places behind Fiji, signaling a decline in their performance and consistency. With upcoming matches against Australia and World Cup champions South Africa, the pressure is mounting on the Welsh team to break their losing streak and regain their competitive edge.
Anscombe remains optimistic, stating that Wales’ best performance is still good enough to overcome tough opponents like Australia. However, he also acknowledged that the team needs to make improvements in key areas and grow by 10-20% to have a real chance at victory. With renewed focus and determination, Anscombe believes that Wales can turn things around and end their losing streak soon.
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