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Wales vs South Africa
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Thingimubob
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Seriously, wth is going on with this Springbok squad :S!? I mean between injury problems, tantrums (then kiss and make up) from Francois Steyn and the PRL generally being tossers who can't make theur mind up, where have the South Africans found the time to train?! I mean they barely had any practice time togetheras it is (a week isn't it?), so all these disruptions must be really mucking things up for them. Said in that WalesOnline article that Matfield is arriving on Friday, which basically gives him a day, maybe less depending when his flight arrives, to try and gel with the squad and get over any jetlag he has. Bit of a tough one! Then again, he's a world class player and he knows Smits line-out throwing inside-out, and he's played with many of the other players loads of times - but still, it's being cut very very fine!
Starting to turn into a bit of a farce - let's just hope the game itself doesn't either.
Starting to turn into a bit of a farce - let's just hope the game itself doesn't either.
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They probably had the team sorted months ago, they're just releasing these stories so they've got an excuse if they lose 
Along with booking Goldie Lookin' Chain to sing their anthem a la France in the Autumn
Along with booking Goldie Lookin' Chain to sing their anthem a la France in the Autumn 
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Andy Powell now out of the clash. Normally not a big deal, but we're seriously short on backrow cover! Who'll be called up to replace him? Can't think of any fit no. 8's, so will have to be a 6/7 cover with Jon Thomas or Warberton as emergency 8 cover. I'd call up Josh Turnbull.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8714606.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8714606.stm
Bokbe4k
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They probably had the team sorted months ago, they're just releasing these stories so they've got an excuse if they lose
Yip you figured out the Boks plan you little stu.................nah,Im just going to leave it before "you know who" shows his mug again.
I agree,I wouldn't be surprised if Butch is selected to come of the bench with de Jongh(pending) and Fourie paired up at center.
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Dull ... they have replacements ... they have a standby list and thats where they will get their players from.
Standby list (to train with the squad in the UK and cover injuries for the New Zealand tour):
Blues: Scott Andrews, Chris Czekaj, Rhys Thomas.
Ospreys: Ian Gough.
Scarlets: Martin Roberts.
Dragons: Jason Tovey.
Thats who they will call up if they are injuries ... Will Harries and now Gavin Thomas has come off that list to come into that squad.
Rob McCusker moves onto the bench for Wales.
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Final SA squad announced:
South Africa:
15 Francois Steyn
14 Gio Aplon
13 Jaque Fourie
12 Juan de Jongh
11 Odwa Ndungane
10. Ruan Pienaar
9 Ricky Januarie
8 Joe van Niekerk,
7 Dewald Potgieter
6 Francois Louw
5 Victor Matfield
4 Danie Rossouw
3 BJ Botha
2 John Smit (captain)
1. CJ van der Linde
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Zane Kirchner, 22 Bjorn Basson
Not too bad. I would have swapped van Niekerk for Kankowski, and Basson for Ndungane. Still though, not too bad a team. Should be an interesting game. Eager to see how de Jongh copes with Roberts. Such a pity we don't have Pienaar at 9 and Peter Grant at 10 though...
Also, to all the Welsh boys, keep an eye on Francois Louw. The guy is one hell of a player.
South Africa:
15 Francois Steyn
14 Gio Aplon
13 Jaque Fourie
12 Juan de Jongh
11 Odwa Ndungane
10. Ruan Pienaar
9 Ricky Januarie
8 Joe van Niekerk,
7 Dewald Potgieter
6 Francois Louw
5 Victor Matfield
4 Danie Rossouw
3 BJ Botha
2 John Smit (captain)
1. CJ van der Linde
Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Ryan Kankowski, 20 Meyer Bosman, 21 Zane Kirchner, 22 Bjorn Basson
Not too bad. I would have swapped van Niekerk for Kankowski, and Basson for Ndungane. Still though, not too bad a team. Should be an interesting game. Eager to see how de Jongh copes with Roberts. Such a pity we don't have Pienaar at 9 and Peter Grant at 10 though...
Also, to all the Welsh boys, keep an eye on Francois Louw. The guy is one hell of a player.
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Haha, yup me being a bit stupid. Gavin Thomas deservis his hot after such a good season. Just hope Ryan Jones remains fit. He's not in great form, but he's our only specialist 8, and the only player in the squad with decent experience in the position. I'm sure Jon Thomas has played there a few times, but not anytime recently. Warberton played there at age grade, but I'm not quite sure he's big enough for international rugby.
This probably highlights the need for Welsh no 8's to be playing at the regions. Rush and Lyons are great players, but no other players are getting a look-in. Lyons started every game for the Scarlets last season I think, whilst Rush is such an important player for the Blues he's usually in the starting lineup. I don't want the regions to drop players of that calibre, but Welsh alternatives need some gametime during the season.
It's unlucky that all three Welsh qualified Dragons No. 8's are injured. Bearman would have been a great backup to have, even if he's rather long in the tooth to be making his Welsh debut. Falutau and Lewis Evans both showed they have futures, although possibly would have been a little early for them anyway.
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It is an area of concern ... with Powell injured, Delve not being eligible for selection, Bearman, Lydiate and Evans injured, Falatau to young. Who knows ... Michael Owen anyone?
Yeah I agree, good enough team.
Funny but I feel much more at ease with de Jongh at 12 than Butch there. I rate de Jongh highly, very exciting player. He's also a very solid player in defense so the match up with Roberts is going to be interesting. Although I expect Louw or Potgieter are going to mark him and attempt to shut him down the same way England used Worsley when Roberts was on form in the 6N some years back.
I'm gonna be missing the game unfortunately
It will be good to see how the new players perform, Louw, Potgieter, Gio, De Jong they deserve a chance these guys will have a point to prove, not sure if we will play as team, history will tell us mixbag Springbok sides doesn't tend to play well erm. Saracens & Leicester last year. Odwa in, wtf? Won't be surprised if Australia or England try to poach Van der Heever. When the inform wing is 5th choice and the 6th choice scrumhalf is 1st then you know there's something wrong. Pdv in my book you'll always be "'n dom poes"
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Very happy for McCusker to be getting a bench spot. He looks like a serious prospect, very much like Tom Croft. Bags of pace for a blindside, but perfectly willing to get into the thick of things. A couple of the tries he's scored this season for the Scarlets, most wingers would have happy with. More backrow players pushign for places is a great thing..
SourceWelsh confidence sky-high
Wales believes they can beat the Springboks for only the second time in their one-off rugby test at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The Springboks appear vulnerable, with Coach Peter de Villiers resting most of the big-name Bulls and Stormers from the Super 14 final, giving four European-based players a chance, and debut starts for three players from the Stormers. Two more uncapped players are in the reserves.
Wales' only win in 104 years of contests was in 1999 in the inaugural test at an incomplete Millennium Stadium. Ten seasons later, Wales thinks it can repeat on the same turf.
"They have made some changes and are also missing some key players. Our squad has been together for a long time, and now is the time for us to make a statement," says Wales and Lions hooker Matthew Rees.
"Every player is looking forward to this game with South Africa. It is big for us, and it's going to be key to start the summer with a good win."
The match heralds the beginning of an intense three weeks for Wales. After the game, it heads to New Zealand for two tests with the All Blacks. Coach Warren Gatland calls the matches with the two best teams in the world, as well as the tour, ideal preparation for next year's World Cup in New Zealand.
"We are playing three really tough matches, and we consider it to be the real start of the countdown towards the World Cup," Gatland says.
Wales centre James Hook was so excited, he delayed surgery on his shoulder for a week so he could play the Springboks. Then he hopes to be back in action by September.
"I am having painkilling injections, and that is helping me along," Hook says. "I can't really do much more damage to it, it's just the pain factor and getting through that. For the last five months, I have been managing it and doing what is best for myself."
The injured shoulder of tries record-holder Shane Williams couldn't bear the burden, however, and another blow for Wales was losing Lions flanker Andy Powell, recalled for the first time since he was dropped during the Six Nations for drink driving on a golf cart. He tore a thigh muscle in training. They were replaced by Leigh Halfpenny and Rob McCusker respectively.
The Springboks also had to make late changes since naming their side on May 22. Bath midfielder Butch James, a World Cup winner three years ago keen for his first start since 2008, was prevented from playing by Premier Rugby, the governing body of England's Premiership clubs, which has a blanket rule against releasing anyone for tests outside the official international window.
The rule annoyed South Africa, which pointed out Saracens hooker Schalk Brits' availability for the Barbarians against Ireland on Friday in Limerick.
James' withdrawal allowed a debut start for Juan de Jongh alongside fellow Stormers, winger Gio Aplon and flanker Francois Louw. The uncapped Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves and Cheetahs winger Bjorn Basson were in the reserves.
Victor Matfield, fresh from leading the Bulls to a third Super 14 ***le in four years, stepped in for an injured Andries Bekker. His 93rd cap means the experimental Boks combine 532 among the starters. That's far more experience than the 463 Wales will start with.
The Welsh, though, sense it's their time.
"It's about belief in ourselves as players," says scrumhalf Mike Phillips. "In Wales we are very good at building opposition teams up, but we have not been so good in the past at backing ourselves.
"But we have a core of players here who have been playing well and improving for two or three years _ or even four or five _ and we know we have the ability, so why shouldn't we be confident?"
Enjoy the match! Lets hope its a good result for your lad (and every other Welsh supporter )
It will be interesting to see how the Springboks play, considering a large amount of these players have never played together.
)It will be interesting to see how the Springboks play, considering a large amount of these players have never played together.
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Lads seen M. Williams tonight with Baa Baas and well I always a fan of him but is he frozen out of welsh set-up now or what
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No ... he is been put on Summer Rest and Recuperation by Gatland and Wales. Gatland stated that to keep Williams fit he needed a rest and mentioned during the 6 Nations that this would happen.
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