South Africa v Wales, Match Thread

Losty Dublin

Kings Park, Durban. Kick Off 4PM BST. Live TV on Sky Sports 1.



This game has the potential to be one of three things. It may end up as the best game of the June tests; it may well be the worst game of the June tests or oddly enough, it may well end up being both the best and worst game of the June tests at the same time.

Under Garland, Wales are a team who are like the little girl with the little curl. They range from a good, very very good team capable of winning the Six Nations and even Grand Slamming it for fun to a horrid one that often fold under no pressure and all with no indication at to which team will show up. This years dour 6 Nations has Warren G under a lot of pressure and well he knows it; he needs wins against the Springboks and impressive ones at that.

This task is all the more harder due to injuries to key players, including Leigh Hapenny, and open siders Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton. That said, his team is packed with world beaters; no less than five of the starting XV have Lions caps. George South is touch and go with a virus though he is expected to start; Adam Jones makes his 100th cap tomorrow while with anti hero of the Aviva game, Taulupe Faletau, is recalled at No 8 with Lytgate and Shindler the other loose forwards.

South Africa are also under pressure but on the other hand theirs is more anticipation and less expectation. With a fuller squad and an impressive record in beating Wales, they are short odds to come off the better tomorrow. They are short precious few of their first choice players and, fancying a good run in the Rugby Championship, they are expected to go hard on Wales, especially at the set piece. Last weeks run out versus a World XV gave the Boks plenty of tries; Wales will be a harder task all round but not hard enough to cause them much hassle.

South Africa: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, Bryan Habana, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Gurthrö Steenkamp, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield (captain), Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Schalk Brits, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de Jager, Schalk Burger, Ruan Pienaar, Johan Goosen Lwazi Mvovo.

Wales: Liam Williams, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Dan Lydiate, Aaron Shingler, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Matthew Rees, Paul James, Samson Lee, Ian Evans, Josh Turnbull, Gareth Davies, James Hook, Matthew Morgan.

Romaine Poite referees.

My verdict; South Africa by 25 points.

Jaggo

Good write up, even if you forgot to add a table. ;-)
PP has south Africa at -14, I think they are good odds. I am expecting a tired and horrid Wales.

thomond2006

I hope Roberts can run better than he did in Toulouse!

Watch at 4:10 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9aFfVA9yVk

Emperor1989

South Africa to win by more than 2 tries.

Expect a much better performance from last week. A dominant forward display I believe will happen.

Cant wait for this feast of Rugby tomorrow!

pickarooney

Mad to see Botha and Matfeld back together.

twinytwo

No 1/2p to win them the game!... Gatty ball doesn't work against SA. I predict Wales doing a Spain on it .......

OldRio

Really looking forward to this. Could be very tasty. Those South African forwards are something else.
Good day in prospect methinks.

.ak

South Africa to blow wales away.

George Hook

Need a good match to clean my palate after that tryless snoozefest of OZ vs France. Boks should be much sharper this week and I hope Habana adds a few more to his try count. Boks by 15.

Losty Dublin

Jaggo wrote: »

Good write up, even if you forgot to add a table. ;-)

Happy?

Emperor1989

The bench could make a massive impact for the Boks in the second half.

They are really going to need to open up there game in the second half if they wish to win the Rugby Championship this year and with Brits, Burger and Mvovo possibly coming in, it will bring a lot more pace to the fray when Wales are tired.

matthew8

Great try for Habana.

matthew8

That was a really bad dive by Le Roux though. Williams barely touched him.

George Hook

woop try Habana!

Pudsy33

Are rugby player stupid? They know that's a red card.

Lucky there and inconsistent refereeing across the board.

19543261

Serfontein looks really dangerous

matthew8

This could be a rout.

CatFromHue

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Are rugby player stupid? They know that's a red card.

Lucky there and inconsistent refereeing across the board.

if he landed on his head, which is what poite asked the tmo to check, it would have been a red.

he landed on his side so it was just a yellow.

Pudsy33

CatFromHue wrote: »

if he landed on his head, which is what poite asked the tmo to check, it would have been a red.

he landed on his side so it was just a yellow.

I really don't like that. The result shouldn't dictate the punishment.

19543261

Good decision.

Kanrith

Way too easy.

matthew8

It's embarrassing for Wales already. The team looks in disarray.

19543261

We dont know how to play rugby here up North.

danthefan

Pudsy33 wrote: »

I really don't like that. The result shouldn't dictate the punishment.

Have seen this stated a lot on here by a large number of posters but yet to see any compelling argument for it really.

crisco10

Le Roux has had two peachy assists for Habana's tries!

thomond2006

I forgot to post this article, if you want a good laugh: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/south-africa-v-wales-how-7258170

danthefan

thomond2006 wrote: »

I forgot to post this article, if you want a good laugh: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/south-africa-v-wales-how-7258170

15. Full back
Liam Williams: 7
Willie le Roux: 7


I am not reading past this.

Pudsy33

thomond2006 wrote: »

I forgot to post this article, if you want a good laugh: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/south-africa-v-wales-how-7258170

No need to read past the 15s, what a load of ****e

thomond2006

danthefan wrote: »

15. Full back
Liam Williams: 7
Willie le Roux: 7


I am not reading past this.

That one is bad but the hooker comparison is definitely the best!

GymJim

crisco10 wrote: »

Le Roux has had two peachy assists for Habana's tries!

Phenomenal player actually. The current calibre of full backs about at the moment must be at an all time high...Le Roux, Smith & Folau are the best each SH side have had for a long time

Wouldn't rule out a move to out-half with Cheetahs next year given his playmaking abilities & Goosen heading to France. Always thought he'd move there eventually as played there a lot in age grade rugby

crisco10

GymJim wrote: »

Phenomenal player actually. The current calibre of full backs about at the moment must be at an all time high...Le Roux, Smith & Folau are the best each SH side have had for a long time

Wouldn't rule out a move to out-half with Cheetahs next year given his playmaking abilities & Goosen heading to France. Always thought he'd move there eventually as played there a lot in age grade rugby

I dare say, SA are much better off with him at 15. He injects so much as a 2nd or 3rd receiver.

Taco Corp

terrible camera work. tell that lad to get his fat head out of the way!

crisco10

Ah jesus. 2 defenders drifted across 5 attackers there.

Buer

Butchering of a good opportunity. No need to delay and then skip pass. Just run straight and pop pass and it was a run down the line.

19543261

danthefan wrote: »

Have seen this stated a lot on here by a large number of posters but yet to see any compelling argument for it really.

The offence should decide whether a player gets a red or not, not chance. Two players break the same law the same way yet one goes off for good and the only gets 10...not very just. It's equally dangerous, so I dont know what it's meant to be discouraging/encouraging.

GymJim

crisco10 wrote: »

I dare say, SA are much better off with him at 15. He injects so much as a 2nd or 3rd receiver.

Completely agree SA will keep him at 15, and so they should given they have serious out-half depth in Steyn, Goosen, Lambie, Boshoff and Pollard. Think Kirchner is still probably second choice 15 which is quite a considerable drop in standard (that said I do rate Kirchner just he's nowhere near the level of Le Roux & probably a better winger anyway)

It's only Cheetahs I see moving him as they need him more centrally involved

danthefan

19543261 wrote: »

The offence should decide whether a player gets a red or not, not chance. Two players break the same law the same way yet one goes off for good and the only gets 10...not very just.

Well that's just it, the IRB have decided you're not breaking the law the same way depending on outcome, and I agree with them.

Kanrith

Really nice try.

e04bf097

Wales have learned nothing from the 6N. The Saffers are employing the same tactics as we did and its very effective, Steyn and Le Roux's chips and kicks are tearing Wales a new one

Pudsy33

Our old friend Liam Williams making a balls of things

thomond2006

Taxi for Delon Williams

P_1

Now that was nice from Le Roux. Delon Williams looking like a tit made it all the sweeter.

danthefan

e04bf097 wrote: »

Wales have learned nothing from the 6N. The Saffers are employing the same tactics as we did and its very effective, Steyn and Le Roux's chips and kicks are tearing Wales a new one

Wales have lost something like 20 games on the trot now against SA/Aus/NZ. I don't think Gatland has ever beaten any of them. It's not just the 6N they haven't learned from.

.ak

Willie la Roux!

Himself and Ben Smith are my favourite backs of this generation.

Hagz

Forget Folau, Le Roux is the best full-back in the world imo.

George Hook

e04bf097 wrote: »

Gatland has learned nothing from the 6N. The Saffers are employing the same tactics as we did and its very effective, Steyn and Le Roux's chips and kicks are tearing Wales a new one

fixed that for you. He only knows one way to play.

.ak

danthefan wrote: »

Well that's just it, the IRB have decided you're not breaking the law the same way depending on outcome, and I agree with them.

But you are. Just gravity might make a difference. Not like a tip tackle where you're in control of the situation.

Tox56

Hagz wrote: »

Forget Folau, Le Roux is the best full-back in the world imo.

Ben Smith is a brilliant fullback too and Brown has had an outstanding season

.ak

Hagz wrote: »

Forget Folau, Le Roux is the best full-back in the world imo.

A back three of Smith, la Roux and Folau would be something else.

Emperor1989

Wales cannot expect to hold on making tackles....eventually these tackles are going to be slipped and then a real rout could happen

danthefan

.ak wrote: »

But you are. Just gravity might make a difference. Not like a tip tackle where you're in control of the situation.

If I guy jumps for a ball and is coming to land and reaches 3 inches off the ground and you tackle him, should that be a red?

Anyway I completely disagree it's just gravity that determines whether a player comes down on his head or not. There is clearly an action from the tackler, in taking the legs of the jumper in a certain manner, that will cause the jumper to invert.