Rassie opts for 'traditional' Bok game
NOVEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Wales coach Warren Gatland is under no illusion as top the enormity of the challenge his team is facing this week.
Victories over Scotland (21-10), Australia (9-6) and Tonga (74.24) mean the Welsh Dragons are in line for a November sweep when they host South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday.
However, a vastly improved Springbok team will arrive in Cardiff on Saturday.
The highlight for new coach Rassie Erasmus undoubtedly would be the victory over New Zealand (in Wellington), but back-to-back wins over France and Scotland on their year-end tour made the Welsh management sit up and take note.
“I think South Africa have gone back to their traditional rugby,” Gatland said.
“They have big, physical players and they are direct.
“It is going to be a real challenge.”
Gatland decided to give his players a couple of days off and then they will start building towards the Bok showdown.
“The good thing about where we are is we are building in confidence,” the coach said.
Self-belief and confidence is a massive thing in creating momentum and we have done that.
“That was a big part of that second-half performance against Tonga.
“You are not going to dominate every game or every period of every game.
“We have had some good success over South Africa in recent years, so it will be important for us to build on that.
“It would be nice to have a clean sweep in the autumn and start thinking about the Six Nations.”
Wales’ last meeting with South Africa saw them triumph 22-20 over the Springboks in Washington DC as the two sides met at the RFK Stadium.
Source: @WelshRugbyUnion
“The @Springboks have gone back to their traditional rugby. It’s going to be a real challenge on Saturday.”
Warren Gatland and his squad are looking forward to a big autumn finale: https://t.co/gYGEzJ9VVR pic.twitter.com/xemFPzisw0
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 19, 2018
