Thursday, November 6, 2008

Wales can down Boks - Davies

Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 8 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC One, Radio Wales, BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra & online. Highlights on Scrum V, BBC Two (Sunday, 1800 GMT). Live text commentary on BBC Sport website

Jamie Roberts (left) and Shane Williams
Will Jamie Roberts (left) and Shane Williams be celebrating on Saturday?

Wales legend Jonathan Davies says Grand Slam holders Wales can sneak a win against world champions South Africa.

Davies said of Saturday's clash: "We do go in as underdogs - we always do when we play the bigger nations.

"But on the back of last season and the second Test in South Africa in the summer, there's no reason why we can't go in with a lot of confidence.

"If we play well we could win the game. I kind of fancy us to push South Africa really close and maybe sneak it."

BBC rugby pundit Davies told BBC Sport Wales: "They (SA) might be a bit match-practise rusty and if Wales can push the pace and dictate the pace of the game, they might find it very difficult on the fitness front because of the lack of matches."

Gerald's hopes as Springboks loom

Davies is intrigued to see how Wales' new three-quarter line, including wing debutant Leigh Halfpenny, 19, and Jamie Roberts, 22, at outside centre fare for the Grand Slam holders against the world champions.

He said: "Jamie's played most of his rugby at 12 this year, but I've always advocated that if you play centre you have left and right so then you have an opportunity to play inside or outside.

"I'm sure they'll try to exploit Jamie. Maybe he's not regarded as the quickest outside centre in world rugby and he's inexperienced.

"It will be interesting to see what defensive system they work as well, but without a doubt the physical presence of those two centres - (Gavin) Henson and Roberts - they're maybe the biggest centre partnership Wales has ever had.

"They are both very, very strong, big powerful centres and then if you look at the two wings maybe they are the smallest pairing we've ever had, Leigh and Shane (Williams).

606: DEBATE
"But most of the players have been picked on form, which is great.

"Maybe they would have gone with Roberts at inside centre and Jamie Robinson outside, but I think he (Gatland) has always said he's a great admirer of Gavin Henson.

"He brings all the attributes and inside centre needs - distribution, kicking, gain-line and I think he likes the stage; slightly undercooked maybe in matches, but I think he's the type of player that loves the big stage so he's been picked because of that."

Davies also believes the Experimental Law Variations have helped Gareth Cooper beat Dwayne Peel to the scrum-half jersey.

"I think the new ELV laws suit Gareth Cooper. He played well in the second Test in South Africa, he's very sharp around the base of the scrum, maybe sharper than Dwayne Peel pace-wise so he's been given the nod."


Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), James Hook (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).

South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs; Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Ruan Pienaar, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, John Smit (capt), Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Pierre Spies.
Replacements: Brian Mujati, Gurthrö Steenkamp, Andries Bekker, Ryan Kankowski, Ricky Januarie, Frans Steyn, Jaque Fourie.

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