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South Africa v Wales
South Africa have all the pieces in place on the field to win this World Cup, their only really weak link is off the field, head coach Peter de Villers is a divisive character and even when he does not court controversy his actions often grab the headlines. During the Tri Nations tournament De Villiers claimed that he was unable to pick 22 of the 49 players who he had named in his World Cup training squad as they were injured and as a result South Africa fielded 43 different players in just 4 games.
They say there's a fine line between genius and insanity and by the end of the World Cup we will know which side of the line this approach falls on. On 1 hand, going into this tournament with fresher players could be advantageous for the Springboks and it may see their squad get stronger as the competition goes on. However, on the opposing hand team could really struggle to get gel as a unit and suffer from a lack of cohesion as the first choice XV have rarely played together in the last few months. In the 2 games where de Villers looked to have selected his first choice XV the Springboks managed their 2 best performances, a narrow 9-14 loss to Australia and an 18-5 victory over a New Zealand team shorn of many of their starters, although New Zealand's selection policy is almost as much of a puzzle as the 'Boks these days.
Wales suffer from a similar problem as South Africa, they have several talented players on the field but off the field their coaching staff seem to be less talented and more contentious. Whether it's head coach Warren Gatland's increasingly bizarre press conferences, assistant head coach Shaun Edwards head butting fellow members of the coaching team or the seemingly ludicrous decision of the sport scientists to allow the team's toughest conditioning program to be applied at the end of a gruelling 10 month season the WRU's decision to sign Gatland to a contract extension in November 2010 when the team had only beaten 2 teams in almost as many years seems almost inconceivable.
On the pitch the 2 teams have almost opposite strengths and weaknesses, with Wales likely to start James Hook at Fly Half against South Africa's points machine Morne Steyn.Hook has impressive pace for an inside back and his ability to beat defenders with ease on both the inside or outside make him one of Wales' most threatening play makers, Steyn on the other hand is certainly not the quickest and his recent start at Full Back highlighted his defensive frailties. If Wales can provide Hook with quick ball then they will feel they can score points quickly and young winger George North will be looking to continue his impressive scoring record of 4 tries in his last 4 games. South Africa's strength and the area where they will have a massive advantage over Wales is in their set piece play, Wales have struggled to find anyone who can fill the game left by the injury of their Captain Lions hooker Matthew Rees while South Africa have such depth at the hooker position that players like Schalk Brits and Richardt Strauss who wowed Northern Hemisphere crowds last season didn't even make their training party. With the amount of ball that the Springbok forwards should win Morne Steyn will be able to increase his personal points tally and while Wales did show some impressive defence in their last 2 warm up matches it is points that win matches.
One area that should prove to be a fascinating battle is the back row contest, open side's Sam Warburton and Heinrich Brussow have been the form competitors in that position for the last month or so and the chance to see them compete against each other is a mouth watering prospect. Elsewhere in the back row Wales should give 20 year old Toby Faletau the chance to match up against the most athletic number 8 in world rugby, Pierre Spies, but with Gatland's selection policy almost as enigmatic as Peter de Villers Faletau may find himself watching from the stand.
South Africa should be able to dominate the set pieces in this clash and Steyn should see them through to an easy opening victory in Pool D.
Blog By @Buck_Mitchell
