Morgan is relishing the chance.
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“When you get to this level, there are not too many weaknesses in teams, so it is not really about trying to exploit a weakness in South Africa, because I don’t really think they have any”, Warburton said. “I am always the optimist”. Their record is 4-4 this season, their worst since 2011, the last Rugby World Cup year.
Gatland has reminded the squad in no uncertain terms in a tough-love review session just how important it is to be composed as well as clinical. “I think you’ve got to be hard on the players as there’s a huge amount at stake”.
“Toby [Taulupe] Faletau loses the ball in contact when [fly-half] Dan Biggar is screaming for it – but the communication doesn’t get through that we have a three-on-one overlap”, added Gatland.
“The easiest and the softest decision is to tuck the ball under your arm – because no one criticises that”. “If we stop criticising then they should worry, because it means we don’t care”.
Gatland also revealed that Wales had actually been holding something back. Several of the team’s senior players were involved that day and scarcely need telling such opportunities come around infrequently. “It is high risk, high reward”.
“We’re not ready to go home on Sunday”.
“Wales have a few special players in their side and they have a few big, strong runners”, Kriel said.
“They have all been great opportunities, then after that first time, I think I am then a lot more composed”.
The vastly-experienced Jenkins, meanwhile, returns to gain cap number 119 of his Test career, and Lydiate’s renowned tackling work is sure to be required in abundance, given South Africa’s trademark physicality. Lydiate was ruled out of the Australia game after taking a heavy blow to his face against Fiji. He will play with a metal plate inserted into his eye socket after being injured against Fiji.
Head coach Eddie Jones led Japan to a memorable victory and he gives the lowdown on how Gatland’s team can overcome their opponents and book their spot in the semi-finals.
Perceived wisdom this weekend is that the knockout punch will be delivered by the heavyweights of South Africa. The nadir was Japan, a humiliation which also galvanized them. It has galvanised them.
“Coming back to win against Samoa and Scotland, luckily enough we turned the corner, and topped our group”.
Seven of the pack that accounted for South Africa a year ago for only the second time in Wales’s history are selected including Alun Wyn Jones who will win his 100th worldwide cap.
Pietersen, who missed the 64-0 rout of the United States in the Springboks’ final pool match a week ago, has recovered from a knee injury and will resume service on the right wing in an otherwise unchanged side.
“It’s massive, you look around the squad and there are British Lions, two-time British Lions, British Lions captains, and it’s really inspirational to see them on the same field as you”, said Morgan, whose bedroom walls were adorned with pictures of James Hook, the other player in contention for the No. 13 shirt, as a schoolboy.
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However, the Welsh got to the last four on that occasion without beating one of the southern hemisphere powers – South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
