Springbok coach Peter De Villiers expects Welsh changes
South African coach Peter De Villiers has predicted that Welsh coach Warren Gatland will make changes to his team ahead of Saturday’s 13 November Test at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The Springbok coach believes that Gatland will change his half-back pairing of out-half Stephen Jones and scrum-half Mike Phillips and replace them with James Hook and Richie Rees.
Gatland is not expected to name his team to face the Springboks until Thursday, 11 November.
"We really expect them to make some changes, especially around the half-backs," said de Villiers during a press conference.
The Cardiff scrum-half, Rees came on in the last 15 minutes against Australia and added urgency to the Welsh team and De Villiers believes that Gatland will promote the player to the first team.
"The way they do play the game, trying to integrate quick ball, I think they will opt now for a quicker scrum-half so they will bring that into the decision-making around Hook and Jones."
The Springbok admitted that both Jones and Hook were terrific players, but that he would chose Hook, who can bring players like Shane Williams and Lee Byrne into the game.
"There is little to choose between them, but [Hook] has that extra dimension to the game that can bring the players out wide more into the fold. [Phillips is] a different talent. He brings something different to the game, but I'm looking at scrum-halves
[that] keep you busy all the time, guys [that get] under your skin all the time," said the Springbok coach.
The South African stated that he would prefer to play Rees if he was picking the team, despite Phillips’ physical strength and ability in the loose.
"There is little to choose between them [Phillips and Rees], but I opt for the smaller scrum-halves who will keep you busy all the time."
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