Last hurrah needed from Boks
Wales intent on securing long-awaited win against SA
THIS isn’t going to be a friendly match.” That was the prediction of Springbok skipper Jean de Villiers on the eve of the Boks’ final Test of 2014 against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
The Boks will end a gruelling 13match season under the roof of the iconic venue, but there will be no thoughts of home.
De Villiers said that there was no “one-foot on the plane syndrome” as the Boks prepared to clash against the Dragons for the third time this year.
Wales have not beaten southern hemisphere opposition since 2008, and they haven’t toppled the Boks since 1999 – their only win over South Africa in 29 attempts.
But they have been knocking on the door having only lost by a point to the Springboks in Nelspruit in June. They are a dangerous team and coach Warren Gatland has selected his strongest possible squad for the clash.
Through an agreement between the Wales Rugby Union (WRU) and the Federation of French Rugby (FFR), five key French-based Welsh players were released for this fixture that falls outside the prescribed Test window.
The FFR did no extend the same courtesy to French-based Springbok players such as Bryan Habana, Gurthro Steenkamp and Jano Vermaak. It rankled the Boks and there is dialogue at executive level as to how this happened.
The Boks brought back heavy hitters in hooker Bismarck du Plessis, prop Tendai Mtawarira and fullback Willie le Roux for the clash.
Gatland has included veteran prop Gethin Jenkins and hooker Scott Baldwin in place of the absent Paul James and Richard Hibbard, who are both unavailable because of club demands in England.
Giant wing George North will also miss the clash through injury, meaning a possible shot at redemption for Liam Williams. His shoulder charge on Cornal Hendricks in Nelspruit resulted in a penalty try that won the game for the Boks.
But the biggest threat the Boks face is from openside Sam Warburton and centre Jamie Roberts. The latter is a bruising runner who has Blacks last week and without Hibbard it does appear to be a vulnerable area of their game.
If Victor Matfield and co can put pressure on Baldwin’s throwing the Boks could immediately put themselves on the front foot and create doubt in the Welsh set piece.
“Our lineouts took a dip last week and that is something we’ll have to get right,” De Villiers said.
“Set piece ball will remain a vital part of the game and if we can dominate there then we can dictate the pace and shape of the game. But you have to use is well and make good decisions.
“This a very important game for us because the success of the year will be determined on the result tomorrow. Also our preparation for the World Cup will take a backward step if we lose.
“But our focus is only in tomorrow’s game and improving because this game is a like a World Cup final for us.”
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins. Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 James King, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.
South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Handré Pollard, 23 Damian de Allende.