Wales Welcome Boks for Autumn Opener

By Helen ‘Helzbach’ Davies

That time of year has arrived again – it’s the Autumn Internationals! The time when the Six Nations elite receive the opportunity to prove themselves against their Southern Hemisphere neighbours.

Unfortunately this year, the Welsh supporters won’t have the pleasure of a live ‘Haka’ gracing the Millennium Stadium as the All Blacks won’t be in town, but we do have mouth-watering ties against South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

Following their Grand Slam success in 2012 and historic 30 point to 3 hammering of England to regain the Six Nations Title, along with a successful World Cup Campaign, Wales should be the in-form team that the visitors want to beat.

Strangely, despite their success in recent years, the Welsh team finds itself in 6thposition in the IRB World Rugby Rankings, below both England and France.

Consistent performances against their closest opponents geographically have not been mirrored in the Autumn Internationals, with the Welsh struggling to record victories against the big 3….New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

However, this year could well be very different. Head Coach Warren Gatland has proved he is capable of steering a side to Test Match victory against Australia following the successful British Lions tour this summer. Receiving both professional and personal criticism for his team selection, particularly regarding Jon Davies securing his test place ahead of Brian O’Driscoll, despite thoroughly deserving his place, Gatland stood up to those critics in the best way possible – a series win. With the series tied at 1 game all, Gatland’s final test team contained 10 Welshmen and they certainly didn’t let him down.

Victories against Argentina and Tonga SHOULD be a definite thing, though from the World Cup in 1991, Welsh fans know that there are no guarantees. It will, however, not be a successful campaign without the scalp of either South Africa or Australia, and Wales are more than capable of both on their day.

The first match on Saturday evening sees Wales welcoming the South African Springboks to the Millennium Stadium. The odds are not in Wales’ favour though with the Boks winning 24 out of the 26 matches played between the two nations with one draw. Wales’ only victory being the first match played at the new Millennium Stadium in 1999.

Following the record breaking (and heart breaking) 96-13 loss against the home team in Pretoria in 1998, the scores between Wales and South Africa have been a lot closer with just a single point separating the two the last time they met in the 2011 World Cup.

A hugely physical team with powerful forwards, the Boks also have the flyer Brian Habana who famously kept pace with a cheetah and can run 100m in just over 10 seconds. Offering a wealth of experience, Coach Heyneke Mayer has chosen just one uncapped player, prop Frans Malherbe who replaces the injured Jannie du Plessis. This will be the tenth International that South Africa have played during 2013, winning seven with defeats against New Zealand being their only losses.

Wales also have one uncapped player in their starting XV as Ospreys wing Eli Walker replaces Alex Cuthbert who has an ankle injury. As is normal in Wales, a huge amount of interest has been placed in that illustrious Number 10 jersey with the Scarlets’ Rhys Priestland being selected following consistent performances for his club this season after returning to full fitness. He has shown that he is able to control the game and the consistency of his goal kicking has resulted in him gaining confidence with every game. The all Scarlets centre partnership of Jon Davies and Scott Williams probably also played a part in this decision. He will be partnered at half back by Mike Phillips who is currently looking for a new club after being sacked by Bayonne for turning up to a video session drunk.

Among the forwards, prop Gethin Jenkins wins his 99th cap on Saturday and Sam Warburton continues as Captain of his country following his successful captaincy of the Lions (he will hopefully remain on the pitch longer with referee Alain Rolland this time). Wales also welcome the return of Dan Lydiate to complete an all British Lions back row. Lydiate missed the majority of last year through injury.

Coach Gatland has stated the importance of a good start on Saturday so the home team aren’t left chasing the game against one of the best teams in the World in what will be a physical performance, not for the feint-hearted!!

Wales team to face South Africa: Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Eli Walker (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Unattached): Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Scott Andrews (Blues), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

South Africa team to face Wales: Pat Lambie; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers (captain), Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis (v-captain), Frans Malberhe, Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, JJ Engelbrecht, Willie le Roux.