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Everything the Wales head coach had to say after naming his team to face South Africa in Durban
Wales have named their team to face South Africa on Saturday, with Steve Tandy making six changes to face the world champions.
Here’s everything the Wales head coach had to say after naming his side in Durban…
Talk us through the six changes, including a new midfield?
“I think it’s a bit of freshness in the centres. I thought the combination of Joe (Hawkins) and Eddie (James) has been excellent for us, but we feel Max and Ben deserve an opportunity. Max did really well for us in, in the autumn, unfortunately got injured, and then Ben has responded really well since being left out from the England game. It’s exciting for us to give that opportunity.”
What’s behind the decision to bring Louis Rees-Zammit back in for Ellis Mee?
“It’s just making those changes. I thought Ellis was good at the weekend as well. I think he’s really developing into an excellent international player. But again, like we said last week, it’s about moving things around and freshening up as there’s lots of travel. Obviously it’s the back-end of the season for us, so it’s a good opportunity for us to see a few different combinations.”
Was Alex Mann also pencilled in to start after missing last week?
“I think with the back-row, we feel we’ve got depth there. Manny was excellent against Fiji, but he hadn’t played a lot of minutes. And then obviously with travel and Jim Botham played really well off the bench against Fiji. So we’ve got a good opportunity to freshen up the pack.”
It’s a first Wales Test start for Teddy Williams in a year?
“It’s brilliant for Teddy, how hard he’s worked and obviously it was a horrific injury. The way he’s come back, he hasn’t played for Cardiff, but the way he’s trained and then played against the Barbarians. I thought he had a real impact when he came off the bench on the weekend, so it’s pleasing and thoroughly well deserved.”
Was Ben Carter available for selection?
“Ben unfortunately was injured in training. He hurt his ankle yesterday, so he would have been in contention for selection before that. He’s been fantastic for us since he’s come in for the Scotland game. He’s been great, but again, with someone else not playing, it gives an opportunity to someone else.”
Having flown in on Monday, it’s quite a turnaround for Freddie Thomas?
“It’s a baptism of fire for Freddie! But he was unlucky not to be in the 33. He’s come in, trained well and it’s a great opportunity for him on the weekend.”
Does going for the 6-2 split on the bench allow for added freshness in the pack?
“I think so. It’s the back-end of the season for us. We had a physical encounter last week, with lots of travel. It’s definitely going to be a physical encounter on the weekend, so it’s making sure we’ve got freshness to come off the bench and add a lot of energy and physicality.”
How important is it to have Dewi Lake fit for selection?
“He’s a tough man and look, he’s been brilliant for us in the way he’s led the team. His performances have been excellent as well and he is at the forefront of everything we do. Then supporting behind with Ryan Elias, who’s coming off the bench and and doing really well too. We’re really pleased with how he’s come through for it.”
What are you expecting from South Africa?
“It’s definitely going to be a physical encounter. You see the set-piece, you watch every breakdown, the, physical piece, so it’s going to be an awesome opportunity for us to pitch up against South Africa and test ourselves against the best team in the world in their own home. It’s going to be exciting for us, but we know what they bring. They’ve got some experienced players, too.”
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How have you enjoyed this first year in the job?
“I’ve loved the year. It’s been awesome for me. I’ve loved getting to know the boys. I think we’re developing as a team. Finishing off our season with a game against the world champions is outstanding for us and another opportunity to experience different things.”
Are the six changes a tactical response to facing South Africa?
“I think it’s probably more about a freshness and what we need from the team, as there’s been lots of travel. It’s the back-end of the season and I think some boys deserve an opportunity. But also we’re going to need a lot of energy and a lot of physicality for the game, so it’s making sure we’ve got that right blend of the tactics but also that physicality, too.”
Do you think you’ve got the depth to handle South Africa for 80 minutes?
“I think we’re growing in that respect. We’ve got a young group that are developing and over the last 11 months we’ve seen other combinations. We’re getting more consistency in and around our game and we believe that the 23 will have plenty of physicality and energy for the weekend.”
Is this a big test for the coaching group as well as the players?
“I think we’re building confidence in our team and I think over a period, we’ve started to put a coaching team together as well to get more consistency for the players. We feel they’ve developed over the last three campaigns. I think it’s an awesome test, an awesome opportunity for us to see how far we have developed against South Africa. It’s going to be a great opportunity for us to pitch up against the world’s best on the weekend.”
What’s the mood in camp been like?
“The boys have been brilliant. Everyone can’t wait to come in every day. Traveling has been different. You’d probably like to spend a little bit more time in the countries, but it’s bonding. You see the boys all together on a day off today. You see the bond around the team room. They’re a special group in that regard. It’s the back-end of the season and we can see they’ve still got energy to represent their country in the way they want to.”
What are the foundations of a good performance this weekend?
“That’s pretty easy to answer. It’s physicality. It’s probably the most physical team in the world you’re going up against, we have to be mentally and physically prepared for that challenge. The boys have trained really well. We had a live training on Tuesday. Yesterday, they really worked hard, mentally preparing for that challenge. It’s going to be an awesome opportunity for us to see where we’re at in that space.”
How you achieve that physicality?
“There’s lots of nuance around how you defend. It’s like working in twos and how you go about that, but also the speed and the physicality where we’ve got to be sharper than we were last weekend. We’ve got get into positions better because we know that you’re not going to match South Africa probably front door, so it’s making sure that there’s tactical nuances in how we go about that and making sure we work as a team.
“Because that’s where we’re going to have to work together, whether that be defensively in pairs, because you know what the physicality’s going to be coming, our speed to the breakdown as we know they are brutal at the breakdown. So we’re going to have to be quick as well as physical about the collisions, making sure our speed is right up there, too.”
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