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With only a few days left, knives has certainly come out ahead of the World Cup. A pre-match mental punch has been delivered and so let the games begin.
Introducing South Africa versus Wales
Much ado has been made about this confrontation, with Wales upbeat about their chances.
No doubt, Wales fancy their chances against the old, tired Boks. But are the Dragons just blowing hot air to fill Pieter de Villiers’s macho moustache?
You may suggest that this match will be very close. But really? Do you think so? For a second, just use your rugby brain.
Good on you Warren Gatland for beating Peter de Villiers to the punch. I hope your comments don’t come back to bite you on your back-side.
It’s funny how the southern hemisphere sides seem to do their talking on the field.
But one must back oneself up, even if history counts against you. Out of 25 matches, Wales has only ever beaten South Africa once. That was in a dour 1999 match played in Cardiff.
Agonisingly bitter-sweet, I thought it was much closer than that. Sweet for me. Bitter for any Welsh supporter.
But these are new times and so, on the day, history won’t matter for much. But history is important. It reminds us how far we have come.
And so I wonder; “What in the bloody bonkers hell, makes Wales think they can beat the Boks?”
Surely it can’t be history, or for that fact recent history. Mr Gatland’s comments about Wales almost beating the Springboks in recent times, both, made sense and are a bit unsoothing for Wales.
It made sense because the last few games Wales has lost, have the following scorelines: 29-25, 34-31, 20-15.
This of course, isn’t bad. Losing by four, three and five points is very close.
Boy, those Springboks were lucky. It sure was felt in the gut.
But, as I mentioned, those victories were also unsoothing for Wales. If I were a Welsh supporter, I would be very worried; and here’s why:
Fact: All those games were played at The Millennium Stadium.
Fact: In each game, the Boks were never at full strength.
Fact: Wales has only ever beaten a southern hemisphere team once away from home. (1987 playoffs against Australia)
History really can be a sour gum in sore teeth. And in this case, Wales has forgotten to floss.
But Mr Gatland has certainly made sure his troops stay fired up.
Mr Gatland has accused World Cup opponents South Africa of ‘not playing any rugby’ during an extraordinary attack on the Springboks.
Mr Gatland started the mind games early ahead of next Sunday’s Pool D opener at Wales’ training base in Wellington yesterday.
Insisting the world champions had limitations to their game, Mr Gatland said: “They don’t play any rugby, they don’t do anything.
“They’re very good at what they do in terms of set-piece and they put the ball up in the air, use the power runners effectively and they’re a strong defensive side.
“We pretty much know what they’re going to do. Morne Steyn kicks penalties and drop goals, and they will play to their strengths because that’s what they’re good at doing and they’re definitely a hard side to beat.”
“The last three times we’ve played them, there’s been very little in the scores,” he said.
“We’ve outscored them seven tries to six in the last three matches, so there hasn’t been a heck of a lot between the teams.
“We’re in pretty good shape and we are pretty happy with the way the August games went.
“We can match them physically and that’s the key to the battle.
“We’ve been 14 or 15 points up against them and haven’t been good enough or clinical enough and have let them back into the game.”
Mr Gatland, for those bold and brave comments I induct thee with the letter A. A for Absolutely-effortlessly-ridiculous.
I speak for all things green and pastier when I say the best team will win. No, history won’t be the only thing on our side, but also our superior skill and power.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.