Gareth Davies praises Warren Gatland as Wales Rugby World Cup surge continues - 'Taken us back to the DNA of this team'

Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies has credited coach Warren Gatland with inspiring his side’s excellent start to the Rugby World Cup.

Wales have won all three of their matches at the tournament in France and became the first side to book a place in the quarter-finals with a 40-6 win against Australia on Sunday.

Gatland’s return to the Wales job at the end of last year – he previously coached the side between 2007 and 2019 - got off to a nightmare start when his side could only muster one win in the Six Nations.

Fast-forward six months though and his team are flying, with group-stage wins against Fiji and Portugal preceding the thumping victory against the Wallabies.

Wales are aiming to reach a third semi-final in four World Cup appearances, and for Davies, Gatland’s return is the main reason for that.

“We had lots of changes, coaches, and that’s just made a difference. We are all back to where we want to be because of this management,” Davies said.

“We are fighting for each other, playing for each other and the environment is good. We’re enjoying our time off the pitch, it’s a good bunch of boys here. It shows on the pitch.

“Warren [Gatland] has just got his way and it works for me and it obviously works for everyone else in the squad.”

Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys - present on the staff for Gatland's previous tenure, as well as for Wayne Pivac's time in charge - echoed Davies' comments, revealing the big difference he has noticed since the New Zealander returned.

“He’s just taken us back to the DNA of this team: be fit, work hard. That’s what everybody hangs their hat on,” Humphreys said.

“We believe that we work harder than anybody else and that’s a powerful tool. We’re becoming a very tough team to beat.”

Wales look set to be joined in the quarter-finals by Pool C rivals Fiji, with Australia staring down the barrel of a first-ever group-stage exit.

In their final group match, Wales take on Georgia on Saturday, October 7 in Nantes.

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