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'Stunned' Welsh great slams the radically changed Springboks XV

By PA
(Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)

Gareth Edwards believes Wales have been disrespected by world champions South Africa over the Springboks’ second Test team selection. Head coach Jacques Nienaber has made 14 changes from the line-up that edged past Wales 32-29 in a thrilling series opener decided by Damian Willemse’s penalty with the game’s final kick.

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He has named two uncapped players in the starting XV – wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and number eight Evan Roos – and four more among the replacements. Only lock Eben Etzebeth remains from Pretoria, with Nienaber stating that he “needed to strike a balance between giving our talented young players an opportunity to show what they can do at international level and winning”.

Nienaber’s line-up contains a total of 393 caps, but 321 of those Test appearances are shared by just five players in Etzebeth, fly-half Handre Pollard, centre Jesse Kriel, prop Trevor Nyakane and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit. Such an approach by the Springboks has cut little ice with Wales great Edwards, who also feels the clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday has been partly devalued.

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Bryan Habana, Jonny Hill’s hair pulling and South Africa’s revenge | RugbyPass Offload | Ep 41

“The big disappointment for me was to learn South Africa are going to change virtually their whole team,” Edwards said. “They have got every right to prepare for the World Cup, but I would really like to know what their logic is in changing so many.

“I suppose the only way they can justify it is if they win. I think it shows a little bit of disrespect. If there had been five or six changes, you would maybe have raised an eyebrow. But 14 changes, it’s overwhelming.

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“I don’t think it shows respect for Wales and, looking logically, there is only one way (for Wales) to view it and that is to give them a good ‘tonking’, as they say. It is a great opportunity to beat them and say, ‘Thank you very much for picking that team’. I’m not going to suggest for one minute that I know all that is right and wrong about the modern game, except that it is a pretty physically demanding set-up and it is important that you do (make changes), but there are ways and means of changing. 

“It has stunned a lot of people. They [the Wales players] are probably talking to each other and saying, ‘Right boys, that’s what they think of us’. It’s great motivation for Wales. It [South Africa’s team selection] does to an extent (devalues the game). There is a lot at stake, but it takes a bit of an edge out of it. That is not Wales’ fault.”

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Wales have never defeated the Springboks in South Africa but after going desperately close at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, they will line up in Bloemfontein with a serious chance of making history. Unlike Nienaber, Wales boss Wayne Pivac is not expected to make wholesale alterations, although it is thought that wing Alex Cuthbert and hooker Dewi Lake are pushing hard for starts.

“Take it from me, any side I’ve played against in a green and gold jersey, you are going to have to give respect to. It is not going to be easy, far from it, second-team or not. My warning is don’t treat it lightly – treat it like it is the same (Springboks) team,” added Edwards.

Edwards, meanwhile, has received a lasting image of what is widely acclaimed as rugby union’s greatest try. Edwards’ score for the Barbarians against New Zealand at Cardiff Arms Park in January 1973 has long entered sporting folklore but amazingly there are no recorded photographs, with only television footage available to showcase a breath-taking length-of-the-field move started by Phil Bennett and finished by Edwards.

To mark Edwards’ 75th birthday next week, a painting by Welsh artist Elin Sian Blake was commissioned that captures him diving for the line. The Greatest Try project will include prints of it being sold for charity, with a celebration lunch planned at Celtic Manor Resort next January on the game’s 50th anniversary.

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8 Comments
G
GrahamVF 870 days ago

Gareth Edwards should remember the 1998 Welsh tour to SA when 13 of their first choice players refused to tour because their coach had resigned shortly before the tour started and they did not like the interim coach. The result was a 98 point hiding by the springboks. Mr Edwards glass houses.

d
drikus 870 days ago

So he is effectively saying the springbok team for the 2nd test is not a quality team. I wonder who is disrespectful. The guy must have balls to say that. Let's see what will happen.

E
Ettienne 870 days ago

I feel that any coach has the right to pick any players he/she want's to. Rugby is played on the field and not the Pavillion.

J
Johan 871 days ago

Great man and Rugby player Garath Edwards. I dont agree with him that SA is disrespecting Wales. Currently we have great depth and quality and fielding them is not fielding second rate players. Saterday will reveal all so i look forward to a great game. I wish Garath all the very best for his 75th birthday.

F
Faf 871 days ago

Well, I'll say that I was really surprised by the amount of changes to the Bokke..........and actually quite nervous for Saturday. I understand they want to try and test new players before building for the World Cup............but that pick seems a bit crazy. Could he not have left such drastic measures for the last Test IF we already secured the series? Shouldn't that be the first priority? To secure/win the series? And then try keep the no-loss-in-SA-against-Wales intact, even though experimenting with loads new players?

B
BOBO 871 days ago

Another Rugby Pass non story.

S
Snash 871 days ago

Mr Edwards played in the amateur, pre-rwc era, and is apparently a bit too precious about Welsh rugby. Lets see what he says when Wales lose on Saturday.

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H
Hellhound 7 minutes ago
What has happened to Aphelele Fassi?

Willie will always be the most missed player for me once he retires. He wasn't interested in scoring tries. The ultimate team player. Has the most assists in tries in the Bok team, and his kicks always spot on, at least 95% of the time. He reads the game like no other player can. He wasn't flashy, and people didn't notice him because of that. Great rugby head and knowledge. He should be catapulted into an assistant coach in the rugby system. He should really consider coaching.


Damian Willemse is an excellent fullback and he is the number 1 fullback. He can play the entire backline positions, except maybe 9, but I'm sure he would be able too if he wanted. No one is taking that away from him, only stand in while he is injured. He is world class and you don't swap that out. He also got wicked dancing feet, great eye for openings, and reads a game like few can, like Willie Le Roux. Also very strong on his feet, with absolute great hands and his kicking game is just as good.


As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.

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R
RedWarrior 47 minutes ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.

Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.

Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.

They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.

That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.

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