Wales wonders
Gatland demands ‘Grand Slam’ in Springbok clash
Wales have experienced two Grand Slam days in Warren Gatland’s 10-year reign and as far as the head coach is concerned, the feeling will be the same when they run out against the Springboks in Cardiff this evening.
A win would make it the first time the Dragonhood have gained four out of four in the autumn internationals, although the significance would not end there.
Wales have never beaten one of the southern-hemisphere giants four times in a row (last year’s hattrick equalled the three in succession over Australia they completed in 1975) and this century they have yet to compile a winning streak of nine games.
Little wonder, therefore, that Gatland has not felt the need to slam the table and give it the Brian Blessed treatment this week. “I haven’t had to say anything – they know they can do something special,” he said. “It’s like when you play the last game of the Six Nations for a Grand Slam. There’s no lack of motivation for that.
“It hasn’t been done by Wales before and a clean sweep in the autumn would be pretty special.
“They are very well aware of what that means and the consequences for us.”
Of course, Gatland was referring to the World Cup and the confidence the world’s third-ranked team would take into the new year. With trips to France and Italy to follow in the first two rounds of the Six Nations, there would be the possibility they would be hosting England under the lights on Feb 23 with the chance to set a new Welsh record of 12 consecutive triumphs. What an occasion that would be.
But be sure the focus is on today’s visitors and Gatland is confident there will no complacency in his ranks, regardless of all the compliments from the South Africa camp.
At the start of the week, their astute coach, Rassie Erasmus, referred to Wales as “the silent assassins of world rugby” and expressed amazement they could be flying under the radar.
“Although we lost against England, in my opinion – and I’m not just saying it – I think we are ending with the toughest one of the four this tour,” Erasmus said, which may also be of interest to France and Scotland, who they accounted for by less than a score on each of the past two weekends.
His captain concurred. “Obviously, they have had the upper hand on us and they are a better team than they were the last time we played them, so it’s a huge challenge,” Siya Kolisi said. “They are a very aggressive side, they will be different to anything we’ve faced on this tour.”
Many believe that Kolisi should not be leading his team out at the Principality Stadium after his butt on Scotland’s Peter Horne, albeit under provocation. But in his first comments since the citing commissioner exonerated him, Kolisi insisted he was innocent.
“I would never do something on purpose to hurt someone else. If I had done something stupid like that, I would have been taken off the field,” he said. “My record shows I was clean and I have never done anything.”
Wales harbour their own grievances over a brain-injury controversy. Leigh Halfpenny misses this encounter because of the concussion he sustained from a late hit by Samu Kerevi two weeks ago. Like Kolisi, the Australia centre escaped
without punishment, causing widespread doubt concerning how determined World Rugby actually is to cut down on the scourge of concussion.
Halfpenny has been replaced by British and Irish Lions full-back Liam Williams, but in his absence the spotlight will glare most intensely on Gareth Anscombe. In a clash sure to be physical, goal-kick- ing could be paramount and, as Gatland said, although Anscombe’s percentages for the Cardiff Blues have been impressive this season, this is “another level again”. It is a proving day for Anscombe, particularly with Dan Biggar waiting to pounce from the bench.
If Anscombe is accurate, then the hosts, with their ever commendable defence, should have too much, despite the dramatic improvements effected under Erasmus. “We are in a really good place with the depth we are creating and we are pretty confident,” Gatland said.