A NEWCASTLE Emlyn rugby player is still waiting to get on the try-scoring board at the Rugby World Cup in France – after having his try ruled out over the weekend.

33-year-old Gareth Davies is on his third Rugby World Cup and the scrum-half has scored seven tries in his previous two competitions – five in five appearances in the 2015 tournament, and two in seven appearances in the 2019 tournament.

In Wales’ 28-8 win over Portugal on Saturday, September 16, Davies thought he had opened his account for 2023 when came on as a replacement and in the 74th minute, went over for what was initially Wales’ bonus point try after some nice work from winger Louis Rees-Zammit who passed on to Davies.

The try was initially given, with replacement fly-half Sam Costelow kicking the conversion but was then ruled out due to an obstruction.

Wales would get their bonus point in the 83rd minute when Taulupe Faletau would go over after a scrum and join Louis Rees-Zammit, Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan on the scoreboard, with the latter coming into the match day squad just minutes before kick-off.

Despite the result, head coach Warren Gatland said the game ‘wasn’t pretty.’

“Tommy said his calf was a bit tight. He was keen to take to the field, but if he had pulled that calf that would have been his World Cup over,” said Gatland.  

“I thought Jac, with very little preparation this week, was good. We’re happy with the bonus point and in the dressing room I just said to the players that’s ‘job done.  

“We tried to play too much rugby early on and didn’t play more direct. Some of those players hadn’t had a lot of rugby and it wasn’t pretty. A few guys looked a bit rusty having not played together for a little while, but we’ll take the ‘W’ and move on.” 

“People had an opportunity to put their hand up so we’ll review that and see which guys did perform well. I thought Rio Dyer looked sharp on the wing, really happy with his aerial stuff.  

“The lineout didn’t function as well as I would have liked, and we were a bit lateral at times. When we ran hard and won the collisions, we looked dangerous, and we looked comfortable. 

“In fairness to Portugal they put us under pressure, and they moved the ball. I was impressed with them.” 

Portugal’s Vincent Pinto was dismissed from the game in the 77th minute for a kick to the head of Wales’ replacement winger Josh Adams.

The result for Wales – and Fiji’s win over Australia on Sunday – means that Wales currently top their group with a maximum of 10 points from their first two games, which means that they are in good shape ahead of next Sunday’s crunch clash against Australia, which is now a must-win for the Wallabies.