Wales versus the Springboks tonight: ‘It won’t be pretty’
Wales and South Africa have gone about their business quietly in Tokyo this week, avoiding the barbs, cheap shots, claims and counter-claims that have marked the buildup to the other more glamorous Rugby World Cup semifinal.
New Zealand versus England, complete with their global PR and headline-grabbing coaches, was the fixture most fans were talking about.
It has left Wales v the Springboks as something of an afterthought, which is slightly unwarranted given the teams form in 2019.
The protagonists in tonight’s (NZ time) second semifinal in Yokohama have lost just one competitive match between them this year – and that was South Africa’s opening pool defeat to the All Blacks at this World Cup.
They are hardened test-match teams that have almost forgotten what it feels like to lose.
But one has to come off second best in what is expected to be a brutally physical test at the International Stadium.
‘‘It won’t be the prettiest game in the world,’’ Wales coach Warren Gatland said.
The Welsh haven’t tasted defeat in a match of any meaning since March last year in the Six Nations. That’s 19 months ago.
The long goodbye to Gatland, their coach of 12 years, could yet end at the country’s first World Cup final – possibly against his native New Zealand. Now that would be some way to go out.
The South Africans won the southern-hemisphere Rugby Championship title, drawing against the All Blacks in New Zealand along the way, and have eight victories in 10 matches this year. Under Rassie Erasmus, their coach since March 2018, they’ve gone back to what they know best – being physical, dominating the set piece, a disciplined kick-and-chase game.
It often isn’t pretty, but it’s highly effective. The same can be said for Wales’ basic, low-risk style of play under Gatland.
‘‘It’s going to be two sides tactically really trying to figure each other out, feel each other out for the first 20 to 30 minutes,’’ South Africa first-five Handre Pollard said, ‘‘and then enforcing whatever plan we made all week, and trying to put the pressure on them. It’s not a gameplan or rugby with a lot of flair in it but it’s suffocating’’.
By taking away the set piece and keeping the ball in play as much as possible, Wales have nullified South Africa’s biggest threat in the teams’ recent meetings. The Boks had only lost one test to Wales in 108 years before a 12-6 loss at Cardiff in 2014 – they’ve lost four more times since.
Gatland might have South Africa worked out. It’s the opposite to how he felt last week ahead the quarterfinal against France, the most unpredictable team in world rugby.
Wales squeezed home, 20-19. ‘‘I’m more looking forward to this game than I was last week,’’ Gatland said, ‘‘and more confident about this game than we probably were against France’’.
When the Rugby Championship winners take on the Six Nations Grand Slam champions, each side will be missing arguably their most explosive back.
A day after wing Cheslin Kolbe was left out by South Africa because of an ankle injury, Wales fullback Liam Williams was ruled out of the rest of the World Cup after hurting his ankle in an accidental collision in training.
‘‘At this stage of the tournament you are always going to lose a couple of quality players,’’ Gatland said.
Hunterville-born midfield back Hadleigh Parkes will line up for Wales in his 24th test after starting his career in 2010 with Manawatu¯ .
Erasmus has again selected six forwards on his bench, signalling his intentions. Gatland talked about how he expects both teams to play for territory and keep it tight.
Don’t expect a running rugby classic.