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Autumn Internationals Preview: Wales vs South Africa
Stephen Jones is tackled by a Bok with the longest, bendiest leg in the world
If the Internationals this weekend were girls in the office that you might fancy, the Scotland match would be the incredibly fat one who eats Wheat Crunchies all the time and has pictures of Winnie the Pooh all over her computer; the England contest is the slightly plain girl who piques your interest by wearing very high heels most days; and this game is the buxom Spanish girl in a tight skirt who works in sales, such is the mouthwatering promise this tie has.
Wales were the form team at the beginning of 2008, winning a Grand Slam and dispalying a tough core of fitness and workrate amidst their dashing and flair. Their summer tour to SA did not exactly go to plan (do they ever), but, unlike England, they did return with their dignity intact after fronting up to the Southern Hemisphere opposition convincingly. Their team for this game reflects the increased strength of Cardiff Blues this term, and it is also a statement of intent from Gatland and Edwards that no matter who the opposition is they will be playing good, hard rugby. Not since the 1970s has the backline had such a fabulous mix of power, pace and panache; and in the forwards there is a lot of experience and class from Martyn Williams, as well as young endeavour from the likes of Alum Wyn Jones.
South Africa have bizarrely moved the hooker Smit to tight-head for this match, a ploy ex-Wales prop Peter Rogers has described as "doomed", but other that they are largely as strong as ever, although some of their performances in this year's Tri-Nations would be described as anything but. The contest between Schalk Burger and Ryan Jones at blind-side is a match-up of world class heavyweights.
Wales will never have a better chance to beat the Boks for only the second time in history, but a lot will depend on whether Wales have finally sorted out their often diabolical lineout. Whatever the result thei will be no more than five points in it.
Drink! when the commentator says: The South African lineout is the best in the world
Expect: Wales to spend at least 25 minutes of the second-half without the ball in their own half.
Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), James Hook (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs; Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Brian Mujati, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie.
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November 7, 2008 in Autumn Internationals, South Africa, Wales | Permalink
