Wales v South Africa: Three key match-ups
WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT: Wales and South Africa clash on Sunday in a blockbuster World Cup semifinal between the Six Nations champions and Rugby Championship title-holders.
Here are three of the key battles that will decide who reaches the final on November 2:
Gareth Davies v Faf de Klerk
De Klerk has been one of the stand-out players at this World Cup, his shock of blond hair and diminutive stature setting him apart in a game of giants.
He is the player every team would want: a combative, livewire presence who corals his towering forwards, also offering a precise kicking game and service on a platter to flyhalf Handre Pollard.
Davies has proven himself as poacher supreme, one intercept off Will Genia leading to a crucial try in the pool victory over Australia.
“He has scored a few tries from intercepts,” de Klerk says of Davies. “He is more there to disrupt the attack and get in between the nine and the first forwards, or nine and 10 in the second pod.
“We are aware of it, and we know he does it very well – he’s got great speed off the line. We are going to have to be awake on that.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rACYYsy7r4&t=12s
Alun Wyn Jones v Eben Etzebeth
As the Prince of Wales told the Welsh players when he visited them at training this week, the Springboks are “bloody big buggers”.
The lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager form a prime example of that, more than filling the enforcer role so long held by the likes of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.
Etzebeth might be facing allegations of racial abuse, but that has not stopped him performing in Japan, the lynchpin of a Bok pack that will undoubtedly go toe-to-toe with Wales.
Jones will be at the heart of Welsh efforts to undermine the devastating South African rolling maul, dominant line-out and midfield ball-carrying by the forwards.
“They’ve gone back to their strengths,” Wales coach Warren Gatland says of South Africa. “And their strengths are definitely that physicality up front with driving line-uts and a strong scrum and ball-carrying and beating teams far side.”
De Jager adds: “It’s been a big focus, and against Wales, there will be a massive focus on the line-out, maul and scrum.
“The team that wins that battle will most likely come away with the win on Sunday. We are going to put a big emphasis on the set piece for this game.”
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Captain @AlunWynJones will move to joint-second on the all-time international appearance list on Sunday, level with @sergioparisse on 142 tests (133 for Wales, plus nine @lionsofficial).
Cadw cwmni da ar y brig mae Alun Wyn 🏴 pic.twitter.com/Hm6NsvrXKn
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) October 25, 2019
Justin Tipuric v Pieter-Steph du Toit
Flank Tipuric is at the heart of Wales’ blitz defence, a proven scavenger who is strong over the ball.
He has formed a sterling relationship with Aaron Wainwright, with Ross Moriarty at No.8, and that back row will have to be at their very best come Sunday.
Du Toit is a rangy, solid player who is key for the Boks in the breakdown battle as de Klerk and Pollard look to set South Africa’s outside backs free.
Both Tipuric and Du Toit are effective line-out jumpers and will have crucial roles to play in the battle for set-piece dominance.
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Unsung hero behind the Springboks
Rassie will continue ‘coaching’
Boks lose Kolbe ahead of Wales clash
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