Wales vs South Africa match buildup.

First topic message reminder :

OK boys, this weekend Wales and South Africa will both attempt to begin their Autumn Internationals with a win.

Both teams for different reasons.

Wales will want to build on their Six Nations form of the last two years, they will want to confirm to themselves that the British and Irish Lions tour was won because of their players, and they will want to progress from being Northern Hemisphere kings, to a team that has the ability to beat South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

In my view, and possibly in the view of their supporters the time is now, it has been a while since Wales has been so dominant in Europe, the only thing missing before they can call themselves world beaters is to take the next step.

How much of it is mental, how much of it is due to the fact that they struggle to put 80 minute performances together I cannot be certain of, but what I do know is they have the ability, sadly it seems Cuthbert and Roberts will not be part of what I deem as the most talented and dangerous backline in Europe. For two reasons I might add, it is the most settled back line in Europe, and also very experienced.

Since the World Cup in 2011, Wales have won 9 of their 10 Six Nations matches, undoubtedly a very good record, however their problem was the seven match losing streak in between the two Six Nations.

South Africa on the other hand, has a new coach, been there for near two full seasons and he has made a difference.

Still not yet consistent, the concern is always how will Meyer ensure that the springboks perform on a consistent basis. In the past 18 months under Heyneke Meyer the boks had their fair share of poor games.

Last year out of the twelve test matches played the springboks managed to win 7 tests, drew 2 and lost three.

Although the three tests they lost were against New Zealand (twice) and Australia, there were a number of other performances that were not up to par. England in the third test at home, Argentina in Mendoza and New Zealand at home, those were poor performances by South Africa.

Although they went through the Autumn internationals unbeaten the were less than convincing.

I suppose the positive out of the performances were even when they played poorly, they managed to be on the right side of the scoreboard most of the time.

Although South Africa has shown improvement this year, the consistency is still under question.

The one aspect of their game that has improved immeasurably is their positive approach to attacking play, looking at the number of tries scored this year in comparison to last year it makes for astounding reading, in 2012 during 12 matches South Africa managed only 23 tries, conceding 16. This year in 9 tests they have managed 39 tries, conceding 18 tries.

Only New Zealand have managed to score regular tries against SA, totalling 15 tries in the last two years, the rest of their opponents only managed 19 tries in 17 matches.

Wales during 2012 managed to score 20 tries in conceding 17 in their 13 matches. During 2013 in their seven tests to date, they managed 11 tries, conceding 7.

If South Africa continues with their positive approach  to attacking plays I believe Wales will be hard pressed, their defence will have to be up to par, there is no doubt Wales will have a positive approach to the game, so from that perspective it should be an entertaining match.

There are some questions over the selections Meyer will make, will he bring Jaque Fourie, JP Pietersen and Bakkies Botha in for the first tour match, which would add significantly to the experience of the team, or will he give debutant Pieter Steph du Toit his first cap?

Of course Willie le Roux and JJ Engelbrecht may yet be inexperienced, but in my view it would be unfair to summarily dismiss them in favour of the old hands.

Wales have a few selection issues as well, who will replace Cuthbert and Roberts, and the ultimate question, will Phillips’ disciplinary record affect his chances for selection?

I still wonder who is the best fly half in Wales.

Come what may, this match should be a tough encounter, will SA prove they have made the step up and show consistency, or will Wales make the next leap towards world domination?

Springbok team for Wales.

The Springbok team to face Wales in Cardiff is:

15. Pat Lambie 29 caps 55 points
14. JP Pietersen 48 caps 70 points
13. Jaque Fourie 69 caps 160 points
12. Jean de Villiers (captain) 93 caps 120 points
11. Bryan Habana 92 caps 265 points
10. Morné Steyn 51 caps 618 points
9. Fourie du Preez 65 caps 70 points
8. Duane Vermeulen 13 caps 5 points
7. Willem Alberts 27 caps 30 points
6. Francois Louw 25 caps 25 points
5. Flip van der Merwe 31 caps 5 points
4. Eben Etzebeth 20 caps 0 points
3. Frans Malberhe 0 caps 0 points
2. Bismarck du Plessis (v-captain) 54 caps 40 points
1. Tendai Mtawarira 50 caps 10 points
Replacements:
16. Adriaan Strauss 30 caps 25 points
17. Gurthrö Steenkamp 46 caps 30 points
18. Coenie Oosthuizen 11 caps 5 points
19. Pieter-Steph du Toit 0 caps 0 points
20. Siya Kolisi 8 caps 0 points
21. Ruan Pienaar 71 caps 130 points
22. JJ Engelbrecht 10 caps 20 points
23. Willie le Roux 9 caps 15 points

Wales team for South Africa
Wales

15 Leigh Halfpenny,
14 George North,
13 Jonathan Davies,
12 Scott Williams,
11 Eli Walker,
10 Rhys Priestland,
9 Mike Phillips,
8 Toby Faletau,
7 Sam Warburton (captain),
6 Dan Lydiate,
5 Alun Wyn Jones,
4 Bradley Davies,
3 Adam Jones,
2 Richard Hibbard,
1 Gethin Jenkins

Substitutes: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Liam Williams

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:if mike Philips box kicks , its because hes under orders . Wales will be trying to keep it in boks half and hope for a knock on

Cheer me up, why don't you

VietGwentRevisited wrote:

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:if mike Philips box kicks , its because hes under orders . Wales will be trying to keep it in boks half and hope for a knock on

Cheer me up, why don't you

    :                its the way of the dragon                                        . 

VietGwentRevisited wrote:First match up for the Welsh lads against a settled and firing SA team. Not the fixture the team would want at the start of the AIs and we cannot expect to see the forwards dominate a hugely physical SA pack.

So we have to move those big lumps around the park and tire them out. This though could mean we see the "typewriter" attack of previous autumns again

We need to ask them questions, plural, not the same question over and over again.

All I can do is reiterate everyone else's point. Liam Williams is defensively solid and good under the high ball, Walker is not. Against the Boks it should have been a no brainer! Priest ahead of Biggar is a good choice too IMO, you'd think people only watched RP during 2012 and not at the RWC before or his form after (this current season). Biggar should certainly be ahead of Hook though. Also, I don't think Lloyd Williams coming off the bench would change the game, however I believe Rhodri Williams or Gareth Davies would have...

OP updated with springbok team announcement.

Have to say I don't see the need form FDP and Pienaar. I would say surely that back up spot should be a youngster? Also isn't Pienaar rested

That's a formidable starting XV.

92 cap habana facing New boy walker  

Looks like an unstoppable juggernaut of Bokke. What do you think Biltong?

And can you edit the Wales team into the OP too.

Saint, I am a bit disappointed about Flip v d Merwe, if you want an experienced lock n there, why not Bakkies?

I understand Meyer is likely looking at combinations here, but overall I think that is a strong team.

Question is though, will JP and Jaque fit into the backline seamlessly or will there be a number of miscommunications and errors before they settle

Well bit dissapointed Le Roux is not start but there was no other option . Wales have a big backline and Heyneke responsded in kind with the biggest backline at his disposal + Lambie . Will be good to see the Defense Commander Jaque Fourie back with JDV . Smith and Nonu might be the best center pairing in the world offensively but defensively JDV and Jaque Fourie have no equals .

Only other problem is hothead Flip at number 5 . Should be cracking test

OP updated with Welsh team, does anyone have the number of caps for them, or a news site that may have announced it with the number of caps shown?

I'm not so sure there will be errors from the SA players, they come over with a new look team in May, 2010(?) and beat us. Though at that time the majority of the players were playing in the Super rugby competition. Hoping for a Wales win of course, but I highly doubt we'll pull it off.

Biltong wrote:Saint, I am a bit disappointed about Flip v d Merwe, if you want an experienced lock n there, why not Bakkies?

I understand Meyer is likely looking at combinations COMBINTATORS here, but overall I think that is a strong team.

Question is though, will JP and Jaque fit into the backline seamlessly or will there be a number of miscommunications and errors before they settle

Fixed that for you  

Bilt, any info on Frans Melberhe? Can't say hes a name I'm familiar with......

Seeing that backline I'm even more annoyed Liam Williams wasnt selected over Eli Walker.

Fourie/JP are top class players, it may take them 40 mins to get back into the groove but they've been here and done this (and plenty more) before.

I cant see SA taking such an attacking approach with Engelbrecht and Le roux though?

Malherbe is young, only 22, shows a lot of promise, Meyer ranks him highly, he was injured for a period, so he would have made his debut earlier, it is a tough test for him, bit I reckon he can pass the test.

I don't think it matters whether Le Roux or JJ is not there, this game will be about building on what we did in the RC, if it is dry I expect we can expect a nice balance between attack and structure, if it is wet it will be more about up and under and putting Wales under pressure. It has been proven in wet weather the less ball you have the more beneficial it is, play territory and live off opposition mistakes.

What happened to Lourens Adriaanse being selected? I thought he press had him down as a starter and he isn't even in the squad.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Biltong wrote:Saint, I am a bit disappointed about Flip v d Merwe, if you want an experienced lock n there, why not Bakkies?

I understand Meyer is likely looking at combinations COMBINTATORS here, but overall I think that is a strong team.

Question is though, will JP and Jaque fit into the backline seamlessly or will there be a number of miscommunications and errors before they settle

Fixed that for you  

 

ScarletSpiderman wrote:What happened to Lourens Adriaanse being selected?  I thought he press had him down as a starter and he isn't even in the squad.

Not sure, I read yesterday that Adriaanse was the front man, it must have just been misinformation.

anyone knows the scrum weights

I read on the Roar it is 915 kg for Wales and 942 kg for SA

That can't be correct, where's the significant weight difference coming from? Our front 5 should be very heavy, Warbs or Faletau should be lightest at around 102 KG (off the top of my head, not accurate).

Biltong wrote:I read on the Roar it is 915 kg for Wales and 942 kg for SA

thanks

It will be the back row, alberts and Vermeulen is both close to 120 kg.

Louw is the lightest.

Apart from Louw all the others are very close to 120 kg each

Feel slightly more upbeat after seeing the South African team.  I think the Welsh centres will actually fancy seeing how much pace is left in the legs of their opposite numbers.  And Bakkies isn't there to worry Mike Phillips.

10 & 11 is the issue.  They have Steyn and Habana.  We have Priestland and Walker.

I'll give you this consolation.

Jean de Villiers is currently faster over 40 meters than ever before in his international career.

jd2 no slouch . plus prob see north around that area at set pieces

Biltong wrote:I'll give you this consolation.

Jean de Villiers is currently faster over 40 meters than ever before in his international career.

Yeah but......

Ummm, how about over 100m?

He has never been fast over 100 meters.

JD2 is very fast, especially for a big lump. Wonder if North will take the place of Cuthbert as at some point we will surely be seeing the mis-pass behind the centre's to the blind-side wing tracking around? Eli is more suited to running in broken play than being the winger in that move.

biltong, I suppose that makes sense. I just didn't think the Bok pack would be that much heavier than ours. A front 5 containing Jenks, Jones, AWJ and Davies should each be pushing towards the 120kg mark. I think the only player we have who is potentially heavier would be Charteris, who is on the bench. Him, James, Owens and Tipuric are good players to bring on, I just hope Andrews doesn't have to replace an injured Jones...

For me, this is exactly the game where Wales need to move away from our typical crash ball tactics. We're missing our main player for that in Roberts and with Cuthbert missing, it's only really North who would take over this role. Really, we need him running in space, not into the Boks forwards.

Wales need to throw the ball about a bit like against England in the second half and move the Boks pack around as much as possible. We have electric pace in our backs in JD2, 1/2p, Walker and North. Create the gaps and hit them at speed. Can't see us doing this but it should be the way forward

The Saint wrote:Wonder if North will take the place of Cuthbert as at some point we will surely be seeing the mis-pass behind the centre's the blind-side wing tracking around? Eli is more suited to running in broken play than being the winger in that move.

To be honest that role was North's when he started out, his first try was from that type of move, but given to Cuthbert because George has other skills whereas Alex doesn't.

Has Lambie played 15 for SA much?

How come no Kirchener? Thought he played well for SA in the RC.

Lambie has played 15 yes, he was subbing at 15 most of last year except for the Autumn tour when he was the starting ten, he also played 15 as sub this year

Kirchner doesn't have the ability to control territory like Lambie who has a good taxtical kicking game, and lambie is less predictable, I think Meyer wants to test interchangeable 15 and 10 depending on field position and who has first phase possession, ie. defensive or attack

Thanks.

In fact he has played 15 tests at 15 and 14 tests at 10

Can't wait for the Welsh to shut the boks up. I hope that arrogant bully boy team get a tuning. Let's see how 'physical' the steroid boks are when north destroys Albert's like he did folau.

Classy comment ruggerbugger.

The Boks to shut up?

They aren't a team that says very much off the field of play,.

Arrogant?

No mate, you must be thinking of that one or arrogant Afriakners you have met in the Uk pubs.

Bully Boys?

I thought we are thugs.

ruggerbugger wrote:Can't wait for the Welsh to shut the boks up. I hope that arrogant bully boy team get a tuning.  Let's see how 'physical' the steroid boks are when north destroys Albert's like he did folau.  

This, for your first post.  

that's hell of a first post  

Enjoy it, there might not be many more.  

ruggerbugger wrote:Can't wait for the Welsh to shut the boks up. I hope that arrogant bully boy team get a tuning.  Let's see how 'physical' the steroid boks are when north destroys Albert's like he did folau.  

Welcome to 606v2  

Dirty underhanded team. Off the ball incidents all the time. All the southern teams are the same. Cheats.I dont think the boks realise that teams are just as big as them nowadays. Hibbard is practically samoan in a Welsh body, ask George Smith. Vermulen is in for a long day.

 

Scrumpy is the welcoming committee rugger bugger.

ruggerbugger wrote:Can't wait for the Welsh to shut the boks up. I hope that arrogant bully boy team get a tuning.  Let's see how 'physical' the steroid boks are when north destroys Albert's like he did folau.  

I think you'll be waiting a little longer then the weekend.

George North ain't Lomu... you know the guy who destroyed everyone but failed to score against the boks in 12 attempts.

Hmmm, did some Afrikaner steal your Weetbix this morning?

You seem a tad disgruntled?

Thanks guys, please to be a part of it all: D

anyway i just hope Wales keep within a score near the end and you never know .

More like I demolished his braai

Grumpy, just a bit of advice on how the smilies work, you must put a space in between the smilie and the last word.