The Leek XV is back. Qualified for the quarter-finals of the World Cup with three victories in three matches, well placed to finish first in their group, the Welsh have regained the level of play and ambitions that were theirs in 2021.

At that time, the Welsh had just won their second Six Nations Tournament in three years. They also reached the final four of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. From ? A tunnel, dark, gloomy. A long succession of crises. On a sporting level first, with a catastrophic year 2022, started with a penultimate place in the Tournament and marked by worrying defeats against Italy (21-22) and Georgia (12-13).

The start of 2023 is not much brighter despite Warren Gatland, back at the head of the team after a long first mandate between 2007 and 2019. The new 5th place in the Tournament is anecdotal in comparison to what takes place behind the scenes. Between accusations of sexist behavior and the economic difficulties of clubs in the Welsh provinces, the federation (WRU) is upside down. Before a match against England, the players even threatened to strike, worried about their contracts.

Who could have bet on these Welsh, corrected last March by the Blues (41-28), humiliated again in August by South Africa (16-52)? Certainly, pool C is less tough than others. “It’s not our responsibility,” defends Warren Gatland. We take the matches as they come.” Beating one of the best Fijian teams of recent years (32-26) and the ambitious Portugal (28-8) was no easy feat. And the spectacular victory against Australia (40-6), the largest in their history against this opponent, is a real achievement. Even if the Wallabies were only a shadow of themselves.

After the match, forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys felt “happiness, relief. All week, we felt like we were doing well. It’s good to see that it’s paid off, all the work we’ve done over the last four and a half months.” Work, therefore, as the basis of resurrection. A soul found, and a group united again. “We are united, the preparation courses in Switzerland and Turkey brought us closer together,” confirms fullback Liam Williams. We told each other some truths. After dotting the “i”, we became a difficult team to beat, as the coach would say.

A coach, Warren Gatland, who was able to bring them back “to what makes this team identity: being physically ready and working hard. […] We work harder than anyone else, and it’s a valuable tool,” explains Jonathan Humphreys. Gatland also made several beneficial changes to the staff. The clouds clear in the Welsh sky. The crises, tensions and upheavals seem far behind. “I think we didn’t have a vision of what was happening, it lacked clarity. We just need to give the players a little confidence and continuity to see what we are capable of,” assures center Nick Tompkins.

Imperfect against Fiji and Portugal, the Leek XV relied on exemplary generosity. It is, by far, the team which tackles the most in the competition (256 tackles against Fiji alone). Is this his DNA? “No, we want the ball. But let’s say we are good defensively. At international level, it’s true that we sometimes find ourselves defending for long stretches,” Warren Gatland said at the time.

Since then, his team has gained momentum, to the point of scoring 40 points against Australia. The chemistry is good between the generations. On one side, young players who are already essential, including the flamboyant captain Jac Morgan (23 years old) or the twirling winger Louis Rees-Zammit (22 years old). On the other, exemplary executives, like the two openers Gareth Anscombe and Dan Biggar. Out injured against Australia, the latter is recovering well and should be back for the quarters.

How far can these Welsh go? Time will tell. In the meantime, there is one last group match against Georgia, last fall’s executioner (12-13). Qualification has already been achieved, but the ambition is to win, to “surf the last four weeks”, in the words of Alex King, attack coach. They will once again benefit from the unconditional support of their supporters, who pour in red tides over the various cities visited. A fervor to match the newfound ambitions.