Boks won’t change, so lets hope Wales can find a way...
AWFUL game, great result. That was the second Test in a nutshell. The dramatic ending is all that I will remember from Bloemfontein as Wales recorded an historic victory on South African soil.
Whatever else the game lacked as a spectacle, no-one can deny the immense character and tenacity that the Welsh players demonstrated against a physically superior side. This was a victory in a battle of wills and despite bending under pressure, Wales did not break.
Gareth Anscombe kicked Wales to victory, but this side is the embodiment of their tour captain, Dan Biggar. His mental fortitude, his desire to win every contest on the field and his absolute commitment to the cause has spread throughout the squad. If we learned anything about South Africa from the Lions series, we learned that they will not change their game plan for the third Test in Cape Town this weekend. The team may be back to its strongest, but the strategy will be the same. Ultra risk-averse, defensivelyminded and a massive emphasis on the scrum and lineout.
They are incapable of change. Rugby is an expression of their masculinity and they will double down on the physicality to prove they are the alpha in this contest.
In the Bokke psyche, scoring tries is but an afterthought, all they really want to do is intimidate and dominate.
But this will come as no surprise to Wales. They have handled the pressure well enough in the first two Tests and even defused the Bomb Squad in Bloemfontein. Wales know that if they don’t open the game up, South Africa will be drawn into another scrap that could go either way.
Regardless of what happens in the final game, the tour to South Africa has concluded a few issues going forward. Wayne Pivac’s job is secure until the World Cup. Three convincing losses would have been the end of him, but he is secure for 18 months.
Alun Wyn Jones is the thirdchoice lock. His new role for the foreseeable future is to make an impact from the bench. It may be harsh to say such a thing, but Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are ahead of him on merit. No doubt he will fight to regain his shirt, but his influence on the game is waning due to the ravages of age and injury. Finally we have proof he is human.
Tommy Reffell will be Wales’ openside going forward. He is the nearest thing to Sam Warburton since Sam Warburton. It has been the most hotly-contested position in Wales for a while but his performances in his first two games have ended any debate. I think that even if Justin Tipuric were fit, that Pivac would go with Reffell now.
Lastly, after three seasons in post, Pivac has finally settled on a style of play. He began his tenure wide-eyed, signalling that Wales were heading in a new direction in the post-Gatland era.
Fast forward to now and he has performed a full 180 and embraced Warrenball like a long lost mate. Forget the rhetoric when he first took over, Wales have abandoned their ambition of playing high-skill and uptempo rugby.
We are back to kick-chasetackle and make no mistakes. It would be churlish of me to say that it hasn’t worked because it has. We have just beaten the world champions. But I cannot ignore the concerns I have about the future.I am fearful that our
rugby is slow and devoid of attacking intent. It’s fine against the Springboks, but you don’t win many Test matches scoring 13 points. We are emulating South Africa but we don’t have the same power as they do. They win World Cups on the back of size and strength. Indeed, Wales have lost to South Africa in each of the last three World Cups.
We cannot bludgeon our way to victory against most teams out there. Comparing our game with the other international matches over the weekend, it feels like it is stuck in slow motion, or from a different era.
Wales need to have the ability to change gear and attack with pace. Other teams will not allow games to be so static and structured. Dan Lydiate and Reffell have been magnificent in this series, but when you pick those two together you are making an active decision about limiting your attacking options.
■ Gwyn Jones is a part S4C’s coverage of Wales’ Summer Tour. Watch highlights of South Africa v Wales at 9pm on Saturday on S4C and on S4C Clic.