Anscombe: 'Our best performance is good enough to beat Australia'
SPOTLIGHT: Wales flyhalf Gareth Anscombe says they will be “hard on ourselves” as they regroup following a 10th successive Test defeat, against Fiji.
The 19-24 defeat loss in Cardiff on Saturday meant Wales have equalled their worst losing run dating back to 2002 and 2003, although that sequence included two reversals each of New Zealand, England and Ireland.
The less-fancied Italy and Fiji have tasted success at the Millennium Stadium during the current losing streak and there seems to be no immediate end in sight – with Tests against Australia and world champions South Africa to come this month.
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It’s in stark contrast with Warren Gatland’s first stint as Wales head coach from 2007 until 2019, which delivered four Six Nations titles, including three Grand Slams and two World Cup semifinal appearances.
Wales have been dealt successive blows of high-profile retirements over the past 19 months and have also suffered horrid luck in the injury department, but flyhalf Anscombe said only a win against Fiji would’ve been an acceptable result.
“We will be hard on ourselves, but I do think we will be better for the run-out and know that we have got to improve and get better pretty quickly,” he said.
“This has got to hurt, and it should hurt. We are playing at home and we should back ourselves to win.”
Wales slipped out of the top 10 of the world rankings, down to 11th place – two places below Fiji.
Australia will arrive in Cardiff beaming with confidence following their dramatic 42-37 victory over England at Twickenham, and holding the upper hand in Cardiff over Wales with nine wins in their 11 visits.
“We have to find a way to get over the line, and it has got to come,” said Anscombe.
“I thought we were pretty positive in camp over the last couple of weeks.
“I still think our best performance is good enough to beat Australia. I think we fully believe that.
“I think if we can grow another 10-20 percent in some little areas then we have got a real chance.”
