It serves to underline just how much importance the Springboks are putting into this match because to come home with having won 3 out of 4 matches would be deemed a successful tour and after the win against the Irish they simply don’t want to break that winning momentum that has been so rare in recent times.
“We are expecting a massive onslaught from them. They showed against Australia that they certainly can be an attacking threat. Their scrums were really solid against Australia. We have got huge respect for the Welsh and they seem to be growing in stature week in and week out. It will be a massive challenge for us this week,” said Dick Muir.
The Springboks will face a far more formidable scrum and group of forwards then they did against the Irish who they totally dominated and Jannie and Bismark du Plessis along with Tendai Mtawarira will be looking for another colossal effort against the Welsh frontrow. Yet Muir is aware that the Welsh would have circled this match as the one they could pull off a win.
“If they look at these 3 southern hemisphere sides you know we ended 3rd in the trinations and they probably would have targeted this game as the easier one of the three and therefore we are expecting a massive onslaught. And we certainly believe that it is time for us to stand up and be counted as far as our results are concerned and we are expecting a massive game,” added Muir.
Both coaches will have to agree on whether the roof of the Millenium Stadium is closed or not but with the roof closed it will give the Springboks an opportunity to do what they were denied in Ireland and use their explosive backs to play more expansively.
With renewed confidence rushing through the Springbok veins and Frans Steyn back in the side one can’t help be feel that the Welsh are staring down the barrel of their 23rd loss to the Springboks and another “massive” result for the Boks.
