International Rugby preview: Welsh forwards will be the key to South Africa upset
Wales will be confident that they can beat a depleted South African team ahead of their Test match at Cardiff on Saturday 13 November.
The Welsh team were given a boost with the return to fitness of British and Irish Lion Lee Byrne. The full-back is one of three changes to the Welsh team. Byrne goes straight into the team after recovering
from a hand injury.
The versatile James Hook is moved from full-back into the centre and will partner Tom Shanklin in midfield. Andrew Bishop is the unlucky player to make way.
George North is the surprise inclusion and the 18-year-old will make his debut after recovering from an injury to replace Will Harries.
Veteran Martyn Williams returns to the team as flanker Sam Warburton is ruled out of the remaining Autumn Internationals with a torn calf muscle.
The most surprising decision by Welsh coach Warren Gatland is that he has stuck with his half-back pairing off Mike Phillips and Stephen Jones.
The coach was under pressure to change the duo and replace them with the in-form scrum-half Richie Rees and the talented Hook.
However, the coach has decided to stick with the pairing that started the match in the 16-25 defeat to Australia.
Wales have put out a strong forward pack and will target the Springboks in the scrum and in the tight five.
Speaking at a press conference Gatland said: "We worked hard last week on ensuring we were combative up front, we put a huge emphasis on forward play in training and we now know we can bring that kind
of game into play when necessary.”
South Africa have relieved the pressure on their coach Peter De Villiers after they recorded a narrow 21-23 win against Ireland.
The Springbok side arrived on the tour with 13 team members ruled out through injury. Among them is captain John Smit and the influential Schalk Burger.
Francois Steyn is the only change to the Springbok team and he will come in for Zane Kirchner to form a new midfield partnership with Jean De Villiers.
The Springbok coach believes that Steyn’s experience will give the South Africans a better balance in defence.
“Frans understands the defensive roles more as he has played there more and when a guy like that comes back they normally instil confidence in the players around them," said the South African coach.
The Springboks will be worried by the margin of victory against the Irish after they dominated the game with their strong forwards but faltered a little down the stretch.
The South Africans will know that Wales will provide a tougher contest up front and they will find it difficult to exploit the Welsh who play a British and Irish Lions front-row in the scrum.
The South Africans will hope to gain an advantage in the line-out and have a world class pairing of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
Wales will be dangerous in the backline and the return off Byrne will given them a further cutting edge.
The forward battle will be the key to deciding the Test and Wales should just shade that battle.
Prediction: Wales 27 South Africa 25
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