In the first of four columns, former Welsh centre Scott Gibbs previews the opening Test. He explains why Wales must channel their inner-Susan Boyle, how playing at altitude feels like having a baby elephant on your back and the pressure on Elton Jantjies to perform in Handré Pollard’s absence…
In the early throws of Wayne Pivac’s appointment a ball-in-hand approach transpired and I liked the direction in which they were heading. But with results not going Wales’ way, they reverted to a more logical game plan where they thought territory, the kick-chase and the high-ball tactic would yield a better outcome.
We haven’t seen the full potential of the collective come together. I’m waiting for Wales to have their Susan Boyle moment where their full voice comes out for all to hear.
GREATEST TEST ARENA
Wales haven’t got the advantage heading into the first of three tests against the Springboks because they will be playing against 16 and-a-half men on Saturday. The extra man being the 50 000 sell-out crowd at Loftus Versfeld for the first time since Covid. There is no greater test arena than Pretoria on the world stage when it’s at full sound.
Those who haven’t played in Pretoria won’t have a clue how loud that crowd will be and even for the home team, the hairs on the back of their necks will be tingling because it’s a theatre of rugby there and it just permeates through every cell in your body.
AFFECTS YOUR DECISION MAKING
The other half man is the intangible and that’s altitude. When it comes to altitude, you can do all the preparation to mimic its effects by spending time in the hypoxic chambers and I have no doubt that the Welsh team will be doing that. However, what you can’t mimic is an actual match situation.
Altitude affects decision-making and puts you under pressure because of the oxygen debt. If your body is not familiar with that it greatly marginalises your ability to make good decisions under pressure. To put into context what altitude on the Highveld feels like for visiting sides, I would say imagine being on a treadmill with a baby elephant on your back and then you’re trying to make a cappuccino with your left hand and doing Sudoku with your right hand.
It’s a near to impossible task.
I don’t see the game on Saturday in two halves but rather in terms of the first hour and last 20 minutes. For the first hour, Wales have to put in an almighty shift to be in and stay in the game. When you look at the last 20 minutes with the Bomb Squad and the depth on the Springbok bench, that really matters.
HAVE TO BE BRAVE
Of late under Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus, one of the Boks’ great talents is their ability to absorb pressure. When you think that you have them on the rack, they have this ability to break out. I think Wales have to be bold.
I know that there will be a kicking strategy in place because the kicking element of international rugby is such a powerful tool but when you look at the talent in this Welsh backline it’s like, “Come on man, create some space and opportunities!”
If you isolate the Welsh backline in every position and look at the threat and capability of each individual, it’s highly impressive. However, they haven’t been able to express themselves in this current structure. The question on Saturday will be whether we see the Liam Williams’ counter-attacking threat.
With Alex Cuthbert and Josh Adams, the wide threat is there and they boast ability to create havoc with some galloping runs but it’s whether the game management allows them to.
And then if I look at the opposite side with the centre paring of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am, who I think are massively underrated on a global perspective, they just go about their work and are two very unassuming characters blessed with different skill-sets. However, as a partnership they operate as one and there is a symbiosis between them which, as a former test centre, I really love.
BOK WHITEWASH?
In terms of the rivalry between South Africa and Wales we are talking about two very proud nations who have similar ideologies about rugby imprinted in their DNA. However, I feel a 3-0 series win for the Springboks will be the bare minimum because on South African soil they are a hard team to beat.
You have to be at your very best to beat them and what we haven’t seen is a Welsh side really performing at their optimum level. Wales haven’t found their voice yet and an expression of who they are.
In terms of the individual components, they have the hallmarks of a great side but it hasn’t worked for them because they’ve either not been able to flourish under the system or it’s too constrained for them because of the conservative nature of Test match performances and pressure.
ELTON NEEDS TO BE ON SONG
We haven’t seen the full colour palette of what this Welsh side can do but I think Saturday is the best opportunity to do that because the Springboks haven’t had a run out for a long time.
Handre Pollard is banged up after a long season with Montpellier. The pressure and onus will be on Elton Jantjies to be the distributor and facilitator. He needs to keep a nice flow in the rhythm going forward rather than go out and try to play too much rugby. The Pretoria crowd is a smart one and know what good rugby looks like so as a collective they would be thinking, “Do not disappoint us!”
*** Gibbs was a member of the British & Irish Lions team that beat South Africa 2-1 in the 1997 series.
> > > Catch the first test live on SuperSport Premium on DStv this Saturday, 2 July, from 4pm, with kick-off at 5pm.