Rugby World Cup Game Preview - South Africa vs Wales
Saturday 10 September 2011
Stephen Jones' injury makes him the big name absentee from Wales' opening World Cup clash with South Africa on Sunday. Warren Gatland has opted for Llanelli Scarlets' Rhys Priestland to fill the fly-half position against the defending World Champions. Jones' experience will be greatly missed; however the Springboks will still be wary of the Welsh's strong backline.
James Hook has been selected at full back, meaning Lee Byrne misses the game in Wellington and 19 year old George North is preferred to Leigh Halfpenny on the right wing.
Captain Sam Warburton is joined in the back row by Newport Gwent Dragons pair Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau and Bradley Davies only makes the bench after Gatland opted for a second row pairing of Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris.
Gatland has included several youth players for the encounter including the likes of North (19), Faletau (20), Jon Davies (23), and Priestland (24) as he aims to improve Wales' woeful record of just one win in 25 attempts since 1906 against the champions.
Unlike Wales, Peter de Villiers has opted for experience over youth as the Springboks name a team that has a staggering total of 815 caps between them, 5 more than their previous all-time record of 810 from their summer match against Australia.
Sharks forward John Smit, a man with 106 of those caps, captains the side as he replaces Bismarck du Plessis at hooker.
The South Africa coach has also recalled Schalk Burger, Tendai Mtawarira, Frans Steyn and Danie Rossouw, who replaces the injured Bakkies Botha, to the side after the Boks 18-5 triumph over hosts New Zealand in August.
The stats do not favour Wales, but as we all know rugby matches aren't played on paper. All of the players are desperate to prove to the world what they can do and with Shane Williams due to retire, he will be eager to end his career on a high note in New Zealand.
However, I feel South Africa's experience will prove to be a deciding factor in this match and as 16 of the 22 players in the Champions' squad were part of the side that won the tournament in 2007, they certainly know what it takes to get their hands on the trophy.
Wales: James Hook; George North, Jon Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (C), Toby Faletau.
Replacements: Ryan Bevington, Lloyd Burns, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.
South Africa: Frans Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (C), Jannie du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Johann Muller, Willem Alberts, Francois Hougaard, Butch James.
.jpg "Henry Pollock, who was part of the England U20s set-up last term, scored two tries off the bench")
