Warren Gatland expects Springboks to play with swagger

Wales coach Warren Gatland knows what to expect from a well-drilled Springboks side.

Gatland has had many run-ins with the Springboks down the years but he rates the current crop very highly.

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SPRINGBOKS WILL PLAY WITH SWAGGER

The Wales coach lauded the experience in the Springboks ranks and the physicality they bring to the game.

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“We’re expecting confidence and physicality from the Springboks,” Gatland said. 

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“They don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Gatland assessed the Boks. 

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“It’s a very experienced team for them,” Gatland said.

“But we’ve got a great chance to go out there in front of a home crowd and produce some of the good things that we did in both the games against England. 

“We just need to make sure we play for 80 minutes and are accurate for 80 minutes,” Gatland laid out their plan against the Springboks.

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Gatland hopes to take lessons from Wales’ failure to put away England despite their Six Nations rivals being reduced to 12 men at one point.

Wales also need some signs of progress against the Springboks.

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“Preparations have gone well,” said Gatland after announcing the matchday 23. “We’re really pleased with the whole squad. We’re trying to build some depth within the team and there’s been a great atmosphere.

“In the first couple of games what was really pleasing for me was the physicality we brought and the way we defended. There are still things for us to work on in terms of being much more accurate,” Gatland added ahead of their clash with the Springboks.

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“There’s been a lot of learning from that second England game and hopefully we put that into practice against South Africa. There’s another opportunity for this group of 23 players to put their hand up before we select the world cup squad.”

WALES TEAM

Wales team: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Alex Cuthbert, 13. Mason Grady, 12. Johnny Williams, 11. Rio Dyer, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Kieran Hardy; 1. Corey Domachowski, 2. Elliot Dee, 3. Keiron Assiratti, 4. Ben Carter, 5. Will Rowlands, 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Aaron Wainwright

Replacements: 16. Sam Parry, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Teddy Williams, 20. Taine Basham, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Max Llewellyn, 23. Cai Evans