Uphill all the way for Wales
May 20, 2002

Not since the 1987 World Cup have Wales progressed beyond the World Cup quarter-finals. And they face a massive task if they are going to go one step further next year.

They ought to qualify from their pool, probably as runners-up behind New Zealand, but the last-eight will undoubtedly pitch them against England or South Africa.

Wales will kick-off their campaign on October 12 against the top Americas qualifier - probably Canada - in Melbourne. They then move to Canberra and a Pool D encounter with one of two repechage qualifiers.Tonga are the most likely country to fill that vacancy, and Wales will remain in Canberra for a third group game against the second-ranked European qualifier - possibly Italy - seven days later.

Then last but certainly not least come the All Blacks at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Thirteen successive defeats have produced some fearful hammerings, notably 49-6 (World Cup, 1987), 52-3 and 54-9 in 1988 and 42-7 at Wembley five years ago. And in their last six games against New Zealand, Wales have scored 43 points and conceded 265.

If Wales rip up the form book and win their pool, then pool C runners-up - England or South Africa - await them in Melbourne, while qualification as second-placed group finishers would mean England or the Springboks in Melbourne.

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