Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 5 live, plus live text commentary on the BBC Sport website.
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Wales are 11/4 underdogs to beat South Africa in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final but coach Warren Gatland believes qualifying from a tough group will favour the underdogs.
Two wins over the Springboks in 109 years is not a rivalry.
Heyneke Meyer’s team lost to Wales past year but will hope their resurgence since the defeat to Japan continues.
“You know what to expect from South Africa”.
France and New Zealand go head to head at the Millennium Stadium this evening.
I’m not saying that squad is in turmoil but if you can work them hard… then I think there’s an opportunity. “I think that’s irrelevant”, said the 2013 Lions captain. “That’s quite important to me”.
“Around 60 minutes I saw a few of their guys laying down and they were slowing the game down and we still had plenty in the tank”, said Du Preez.
“It’s been tough, look at my grey hair”, he said.
“South Africa are still there, though, and they are growing and growing with every game”. When you can leave the likes of Sonny Bill Williams on the bench it shows the incredible talent and strength in depth that coach Steve Hansen has to choose from and an All Blacks victory looks a certainty. “We’re playing knock-out rugby and hopefully we can take that further”. They pressurise teams in defence, but their aerial game is huge. The Boks seem to have recovered from their shock opening defeat to Japan, accounting for Samoa, Scotland and US with relative ease in their remaining Pool B fixtures.
At first it was an ageing squad and they lost their captain Jean de Villiers, Victor Matfield has pulled out as well with a hamstring injury.
“He’s such a competitor and wants to win desperately”.
“They have gone back to how they play the game best – that’s how they won the World Cup (in 2007)”.
Wales led by a point, courtesy of scrum-half Gareth Davies’ first-half touchdown, three penalties, a drop-goal and conversion from Dan Biggar, but Du Preez struck when he sprinted clear from a close-range scrum and the two-time world champions prevailed 23-19.
Wales have named their team to play the Springboks in the World Cup quarterfinals at Twickenham on Saturday. Bryan Habana, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez and JP Pietersen all started in the 15-6 win over England in the 2007 final. “This week, all the players are relaxed, but ready for complete warfare, come the 80 minutes”.
Wales have only ever beaten the Springboks twice – in 1999 and the last meeting between the teams in November 2014.
Habana is also the new world record holder for most Test tries as a wing.
Habana is now the joint record holder for most career tries (15) in RWC tournaments. He is now joint-second on the list for most Test tries. They both have 64 tries – five behind Japan’s record-holder Daisuke Ohata.
Wales made a blistering start, storming into South Africa territory after impressive centre Tyler Morgan stole possession and sparked a move that ended with wing George North being held up just short of the line.
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Wales vs South Africa isn’t a rivalry… the history between the two sides is too lopsided to ignore!
