Wales will be our toughest test.
Liam del Carme for the Beeld writes that it may cause raised eyebrows in London but Springbok coach Peter de Villiers believes Wales will provide the South African rugby team’s strongest opposition on their three-Test tour in Britain.
Wales are the Six Nations champions, but England’s supporters expect an upswing in their team’s form after the appointment of former star lock forward Martin Johnson as team manager.
De Villiers’s opinion is largely based on the fact that the Springboks meet Wales in the first Test of the tour, before they play Scotland and England on the next two Saturdays.
“The most difficult Test will be the one this week because it is the first,� De Villiers said on Sunday.
Harder to beat
“There will be time to see how the other two teams have done before we play them.
“The Welsh are passionate. They would like to do better and Warren Gatland is one of the best coaches in the world. “
De Villiers expects Wales to provide most of the players for the British and Irish Lions team to tour South Africa next year.
Springbok captain John Smit also believes that the Welsh will be harder to beat than they were on their tour of South Africa earlier this year.
South Africa won both Test matches, but Wales gave a good account of themselves, especially in Pretoria.
Smit said: “It’s been a good year for Wales and they would have gained confidence from the second Test against us. They showed how much they were able to improve in a week.�
“They now have a third opportunity this year to beat us and this time they have home-ground advantage.
Difference in standards
“None of the previous matches was easy,� Smit said. “We did not come here expecting things to merely happen. They will measure their success for the year by how well they do against us this time.�
Wales have beaten South Africa only once in 22 matches, but the Springboks cannot rely too much on history books.
Smit feels the difference in standards between international teams is shrinking.
“Any victory in international rugby is an achievement. Teams have improved a lot during recent years and the gap between them is not as big as it used to be.�
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November 3rd, 2008 at 1:10 pm
WTF, yes, Wales has improved dramatically but come on… We are World Champs! We should not be scared of these okes. Also, if they concentrate so hard on the Welsh are they completely forgetting about the Poms???
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
This test may well decide the
success or failure of the tour.
If Ruan becomes undone at 10 and
Smith gets his arse handed to him
on a plate at 3 I can only see big
trouble.
Add to this a red for Bismarck or
Bakkies or Afkophoender . . .
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 1:13 pm:
Yeah a bit undecided as to which two would be more difficult…
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Let’s just say they are both must wins…
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 1:44 pm:
Wales.
But nothing more than 100% record will be good enough.
He has the strongest available team there, barr one or two selections…
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Reply to Morneno @ 1:46 pm:
barr one or two selections
========
Actually it’s four:
Mummy
Mujati
Nokwe
Spies
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
If Pienaar Bombs he can simply move Steyn to 10. However I doubt Ruan will go too badly. Trust Du Preez to make the majority of ground clearances as well as the kicks for territory.
If Smit bombs at 3 then they can move him to 2 but you still dont have a great replacement at 3 because Mujati is simply not a good selection.
All in all I am still chuffed.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:13 pm
I think we gonna moer the Walliesers big time this weekend.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
So as usual everyone talks kak online all day while they are supposed to work and now they tend to the missus to gain browny points so they can have 2 beers during the match on Saturday?
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 6:48 pm:
No actually its 2:
Mujati
Jantjies
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I heard from my own father that the father of one Luke Watson played for Eastern Freestate on the wing……..and lived in Bethlehem for a good 2 years……
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Reply to newbokshields @ 9:13 pm:
Ja ons gaan maar Smit gaan weereens skyt soos n reier op stut…
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Oom Stan ek dink ook hy gaan swaarkry maar hy het eenvoudig te veel experience om rerig te kak.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Ek gaan nou maar `n Walliese site soek om die ouens bietjie kak te hap want julle boere wil nie gesels nie, wil net kla soos altyd.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:36 pm
:rant: Dit reen te veel, dit reen te min, die kafjars fok die land op, die vrouens wil nie meer omgang he nie, die kinders is nie meer dieselfde nie die kerk soek net geld
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Nou het oom Stan vir een minuut die 7de Laan omnibus ophou kyk om gou te blog en woeps daar gaan hy weer…….
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Hy sou miskien oorleef het op losskop maar hy gaan ndrol soos n Vimblik skyt op vasskop.
Hy is eenvoudig nie sterk genoeg nie.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
wat is 7e laan?
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Gaan dit 100% oor krag of 50% krag en 50% tegniek?
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Vasskop vereis meer krag as tegniek…
Kyk na die vasskop legendes se liggaamsbou.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:47 pm
en sy lengte tel ook teen hom.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Reply to newbokshields @ 9:16 pm:
Jip, jy is seker reg.
Jammer ek het jou gemis.