LIAM’S BACK AT THE BACK AS GATLAND NAMES TEAM TO TAKE ON THE ‘BOKS
WARREN Gatland says his Wales players are fully aware they can achieve “something special” against South Africa tomorrow.
Wales have won four of the last five encounters with the Springboks, and they are also chasing a ninth successive triumph against all opponents, which would equal their longest unbeaten run since 1999.
And they go into the Principality Stadium clash needing victory to complete a first four-from-four autumn Tests clean sweep after seeing off Scotland, Australia and Tonga earlier this month.
“What has built nicely is the momentum,” said Wales head coach Gatland, who has replaced unavailable full-back Leigh Halfpenny with Liam Williams for the Springboks encounter.
“The players are fully aware of what they’ve achieved and they can do something special, and from that they know the momentum is created for the Six Nations and they can continue to build towards the World Cup.
“The way the players have trained at the moment, I haven’t seen this level of maturity in a group of players. Our composure in games has been outstanding.
“Even last week (against Tonga) we found ourselves in a bit of a hole and managed to work our way out of it. In the past, that has compounded us.
“But there is some real maturity in this group, and they are calm. You can see they are motivated as well.”
Halfpenny misses the Springboks game due to the concussion he suffered during Wales’ 9-6 victory against Australia 12 days ago, with Williams taking over as a solitary change from that match.
Halfpenny went off near the end of the Australia fixture after being clattered by a challenge from Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi, who escaped sanction.
Williams, who lined up on the wing and scored two tries when Wales beat Tonga 74-24 last Saturday, started twice at full-back for his country last season and in all three 2017 British and Irish Lions Tests against New Zealand.
Gareth Anscombe will fill the flyhalf berth, with Dan Biggar on replacement duty, while Adam Beard is again captain Alun Wyn Jones’ second-row partner.
Elsewhere, wing George North has recovered from a leg injury that forced him off against the Wallabies and Gatland retains a back row of Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty.
Meanwhile, South Africa have won plaudits for their vastly-improved performances under head coach Rassie Erasmus, who was only appointed to the role eight months ago.
“They have reclaimed some of their old identity,” added Gatland.
“Physicality, strong scrum, a driving lineout and strong ball-carriers. That’s why you always respect them.” ■
FORMER Scarlets star Tadhg Beirne will have the chance to kick-start his Test career after winning selection in a much-changed Ireland team to face the United States tomorrow.
Garry Ringrose is the sole survivor from Ireland’s stunning 16-9 win over New Zealand last weekend as head coach Joe Schmidt has made 14 changes for the USA’s visit to Dublin.
Munster lock Beirne will earn his fourth cap and second start, while his provincial mate Sam Arnold could make his Test debut off the bench.
John Cooney will make his full debut at scrum-half, with Joey Carbery taking the reins at 10.
Beirne is quickly advancing his Ireland claims after trading Scarlets for Munster in the summer, and has already put some heat on senior locks like Iain Henderson and Devin Toner.
Toner excelled in Ireland’s firstever victory over New Zealand on home soil though, to reassert his status as starting lock, alongside the ever-imperious Leinster youngster James Ryan.
Henderson will be itching to prove a point given he is starting against the USA then, having not made the starting line-up for the All Blacks win.
Head coach Schmidt confirmed he had always planned to make wholesale changes for the USA clash, then hailed lock Beirne’s swift progress in the Ireland setup.
“This was always part of the plan to make the changes, the two games book-ended the series and it’s a chance to look at all of the 43 players across the four matches,” said Ireland boss Schmidt.
“Tadhg (Beirne) has slotted in so well, coming off the bench a couple of times in Australia in the summer, and bedding in as part of the broader squad.
“And I thought Iain Henderson came on and did really well last week against New Zealand.
“Tadhg has a really instinctive feel for the game; his running lines, his ability to get into the right defensive positions. Those things are a little bit intuitive, and it’s great to coach a guy who tends to know where to be most of the time.”