Ireland’s Josh van der Flier normally wears a scrum cap but he didn’t against Romania in the first match in Bordeaux
It was enforced at this year’s event for the first time as temperatures exceeded 35 degrees and the humidity forced the stress scale to reach 5, where play is suspended.
“No, I wouldn’t support [water breaks], not particularly,” said Gatland before the tournament while, as always, seeking a competitive edge. “We would like the ball on the park as often as we could; we’re in pretty good shape physically.” “Last World Cup, I didn’t wear it for the first game, then I got a cut on my head, so I had to start wearing it. So, I had done it before. But I would probably be more comfortable wearing it. Glad not to have it today. It was very hot.””