Wales will take heart from the British and Irish Lions’ demolition of Australia earlier this year when they tackle the Springboks in Cardiff on Saturday.
There were 10 Welsh players in the Lions’ starting team for the decisive third Test against the Wallabies in June – a game the Lions convincingly won 41-16 to claim their first series win in 16 years.
Sport24
Wales coach Warren Gatland was also the Lions coach and the New Zealander believes his players now have enough confidence to beat the Southern Hemisphere heavyweights.
Wales have improved markedly in recent years, winning two Grand Slams and three Six Nations titles since Gatland took over as coach in 2008.
However, their record against the three Southern Hemisphere powers – South Africa, New Zealand and Australia – remains dismal. They have suffered 22 defeats in 23 matches against the “Big Three” under Gatland with the sole victory coming against the Wallabies in 2008.
Their overall record in Tests against South Africa is also poor, with the Boks holding a 24-1 winning record, with one match ending in a draw.
However, after his heroics with the Lions, Gatland is ready to build on that good momentum, starting with Saturday’s Test against the Springboks.
In Monday’s Cape Times, Gatland said the players involved in the Lions tour have gained a huge amount of confidence from the series victory in Australia.
He said a lot of Welshmen were key components in the Lions team and they now know that they can beat the Southern Hemisphere teams.
He also said they were unlucky to lose to the Springboks the last time the teams clashed at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand two years ago.
The Boks were lucky to sneak a 17-16 victory after Wales had chances to win the game with kicks in the dying moments.
Following their clash against the Welsh, the Boks also tackle Scotland in Edinburgh (November 17) and France in Paris (November 23).
There are some critical injuries amongst the Welsh backline players, so I do not expect the best Welsh backline out there, but Wales certainly pose a serious threat this weekend.
Similarly, there will be experimentation by the Springboks at No 3 tighthead prop, with Jannie du Plessis out of the tour… but then again some strong selections by Heyneke Meyer for the End Of Year Tour.
Here’s hoping the Springboks successfully negotiate the 1st hurdle on tour… and then 2 more!
Goooooooooooo Bokke!
Boodskap aan die drake…. Julle is nie die leeus nie en ons, ons is NIE die aussies nie
@ smallies:
Ek like daai comment. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA>
Great stuff smallies, like dit woes
2 @ smallies:
3 @ Timothy Bornman:
4 @ Gena_ZA:
Ja, ek like die comments ook… maar mens moenie Wallis en Gatland onderskat nie.
Dink ook nie Wallis doen hulleself ‘n guns om in die Media te brag dat hulle dink hulle gaan en kan wen nie… dit alleen sal maak dat die Bokke nog beter fokus en Wallis regtig behoorlik wil donner om ‘n punt te bewys.
Ek dink Heyneke Meyer is hier presies die regte man om sy spelers se volle “Buy-in” te kry, gemotiveerd te kry en te wys waar Dawid die wortels gegrawe het.
Ek sal Gatland egter nie onderskat nie…
Het iemand al die Wallis afrigter se van in Afrikaans gesê. Gelukkig rig hy oorsee af nie hier nie. hahahahahahahahahaha.
Ek wil nie die wa voor die perde span nie. Maar ek reken as dit op hierdie staduim by die Bokke en AB’s kom is die noordelikke spanne 600 myl agter.
Wallis het wel die 6 nasies gewen, maar teen die suidelikke spanne sal hulle sukkel. Hulle sal dalk die Wallabies net net wen.
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