Rugby World Cup 2011: South Africa VS Wales match preview
South Africa and Wales are all set to stage one of the toughest encounters of Rugby World Cup in Wellington on September 11. The highly anticipated match holds great value for both teams as the victory will pave the way for the quarter final stages for the
winning side. On paper, these two teams are supposed to be the top sides of Pool D but they have to be very careful in the presence of Fiji, Samoa and Namibia as each of them has got the ability to produce an upset performance.
Although the defending champions, Springboks, have got the historical and psychological edge over Wales, their recent rusty performance in Tri-Nations Cup has swapped all those affects. The Boks were forced to bite the dust by All Blacks and Wallabies in
Tri-Nations tournament and could win just one game after four outgoings. On the other hand, Welsh side had a wonderful time in the warm up matches as they rumbled England and Ireland during last month.
South Africa and Wales have collided on 25 times before this match and the equation highly favours the Boks for their tremendous track record. South Africa has derailed the Welsh side on 23 occasions, perceived the defeat in one match while one of the matches
was drawn.
The mutual history of the both countries reveals that Wales have always remained under immense of South Africa. South African side has enjoyed a 12 matches winning streak against Wales whereas the Welsh side has yet to win their second match against them.
The Boks had also thumped the Welsh side by a monstrous difference of 83 points as the produced a history making performance of 96-13 back in 1998. Likewise Wales have not won any game against the Boks since 1999.
South Africa seems very careful about this match as they have lined up a most experienced side of their history. Their coach Peter de Villiers announced the bunch with 815 test caps with a hope to kick off their campaign with a flying start. He has also
made few shuffles in the starting lines of the team with the retune of experienced players in the team. Frans Steyn and Schalk Burger are back in the side whereas Bakkies Botha will miss the show due an injury.
Meanwhile, Wales’ have formed a mixture of experienced and youngsters for this particular match. Sam Warburton will lead the side in the absence of Mathew Rees who was ruled out from the whole RWC due to neck injury.
Jaque Fourie, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger and Danie Rossouw will be key players for South Africa whereas Shane Williams, Rhys Priestland and Mike Phillips will be required to give their best to clinch a victory for Wales.
South Africa: Frans Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers, Bryan Habana; Morné Steyn, Fourie Du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (c), Jannie Du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Heinrich
Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies
Replacements: Bismarck Du Plessis, Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Johan Muller, Willem Alberts, Francois Hougaard, Butch James
Wales: James Hook; George North, Jonathan 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: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Leigh Halfpenny
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