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Jonathan Davies says Wales will be ready for South Africa

By PA
(Photo by Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Jonathan Davies says that Wales will focus on “the fine details” during preparations to face world champions South Africa.

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Wales’ demanding Autumn Nations Series continues against the Springboks next weekend, just seven days after a 54-16 defeat by New Zealand in Cardiff.

Unlike against the All Blacks, though, recent history favours Wales when South Africa come to town.

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Dan Biggar on the Autumn Nations Series

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Dan Biggar on the Autumn Nations Series

Wales have toppled the Springboks four times in a row at home, with South Africa last departing the Welsh capital victorious eight years ago.

But the reigning Six Nations champions’ degree of difficulty is not about to diminish as they look to bounce back from shipping a half-century of points.

South Africa are fresh from beating New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, which followed a 2-1 Test series triumph against the British and Irish Lions.

“We are always trying to develop our game,” said centre Davies, who took over captaincy duties when Alun Wyn Jones went off injured after just 18 minutes of the New Zealand encounter.

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“The one thing this team always shows is that the more time we spend together, the better we get.

“We will dust ourselves off, come in on Monday and look to build and get a result next week at home.

“It’s the fine details – not moving forward on kicks, executing our exits correctly and not putting pressure on ourselves.

“The way South Africa play, they want to put pressure on you. For us, it’s making sure we build and play in the right areas of the field.

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“Look, you work extremely hard to get a result, and when you don’t get it, it does hurt.

“The beauty of it now is we have another opportunity next week to put the wrongs right. That is what this group will want to show next week.”

Wales trailed the All Blacks by just 12 points after an hour, but were then blitzed as Beauden Barrett, in his 100th Test, inspired the visitors as they ran in four tries.

Davies added: “They showed why they are one of the best teams in the world. When they get opportunities, they always take them.

“It’s a credit to them. They are ruthless with every chance they get. We worked to get ourselves back in touching distance, and the disappointing thing is that our errors opened the door for them.”

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J
JW 27 minutes ago
England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

As has been the way all year, and for all England's play I can remember. I missed a lot of the better years under Eddie though.


Lets have a look at the LQB for the last few games... 41% under 3 sec compared to 56% last week, 47% in the game you felt England best in against NZ, and 56 against Ireland.


That was my impression as well. Dunno if that is a lack of good counterattack ball from the D, forward dominance (Post Contact Meters stats reversed yesterday compared to that fast Ireland game), or some Borthwick scheme, but I think that has been highlighted as Englands best point of difference this year with their attack, more particularly how they target using it in certain areas. So depending on how you look at it, not necessarily the individual players.


You seem to be falling into the same trap as NZs supporters when it comes to Damien McKenzie. That play you highlight Slade in wasn't one of those LQB situations from memory, that was all on the brilliance of Smith. Sure, Slade did his job in that situation, but Smith far exceeded his (though I understand it was a move Sleightholme was calling for). But yeah, it's not always going to be on a platter from your 10 and NZ have been missing that Slade line, in your example, more often than not too. When you go back to Furbank and Feyi-Waboso returns you'll have that threat again. Just need to generate that ball, wait for some of these next Gen forwards to come through etc, the props and injured 6 coming back to the bench. I don't think you can put Earl back to 7, unless he spends the next two years speeding up (which might be good for him because he's getting beat by speed like he's not used to not having his own speed to react anymore).

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