Agonising defeat for Wales in Rugby World Cup semi-final
Welsh dreams of rugby greatness are dashed as Warren Gatland’s men narrowly miss out on reaching the World Cup final in a thrilling match against France.
The Welsh team faced an uphill battle after their captain Sam Warburton was controversially sent off after 18 minutes.
Hopes of Wales reaching their first Rugby World Cup final were agonisingly dashed, losing by just one point in a 9-8 defeat.
Warburton’s dismissal was the talking point of the match and referee Alain Rolland was booed from the stands and widely criticised for his decision.
But the Irish referee applied the letter of the law after Warburton had tipped Clerc in the tackle and 14-man Wales had to battle for 62 minutes as a result.
Why spoil the semi-final with a red card? He’s not a dirty player. I’m just gutted. Warren Gatland, Wales coach
Mike Phillips’ try brought them back from 9-3 down to within a point before Leigh Halfpenny’s halfway-line penalty slid just under the crossbar.
Wales threw everything they had at France but they could not create the opportunity for Stephen Jones to take a attempt a late drop goal.
France were poor but Morgan Parra landed all three of his penalty attempts while James Hook missed two and Jones failed with his conversion attempt.
In the end, Wales’ dream of a first World Cup final appearance died with a knock-on and France, who accounted for England last week, will face either New Zealand or Australia in next Sunday’s final.
Wales coach Warren Gatland said he felt “let down” by referee Alain Rolland after his side’s defeat.
“We just feel like the destiny of the result was taken out of our hands with the red card,” he told ITV after the 9-8 defeat.
“He’s lifted him, that’s a yellow card, but he’s not driven him into the ground. Does that mean every time there’s a tackle where you lift someone off the ground it’s a red card?
“Why spoil the semi-final with a red card? He’s not a dirty player. I’m just gutted.
“We were down to 14 but we showed great character and I’m proud of our efforts. But we can’t go to just one tournament and do well, we’ve got to kick on from here.
It’s a marathon effort to get to the last four and the whole nation is proud of them. Wales’ first minister Carwyn Jones
“I feel let down, I thought this team were good enough to go on and take the final but it was not to be. We just feel that ultimately the result wasn’t in our control.”
Despite the heartbreak, Wales’ First Minister Carwyn Jones said the country’s team had done the nation proud.
He said: “The team’s achievement has been magnificent. It’s a marathon effort to get to the last four and the whole nation is proud of them.
“The rugby squad are great ambassadors for our country on and off the field.”
The principality was buzzing with the excitement ahead of the crunch contest in Auckland.
Around 65,000 fans packed out the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to watch the match on giant TV screens – more than the number of supporters witnessing the game first hand in New Zealand.