Rugby

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BY jeAn sMYTH

As the Springboks prepare for their annual trek northward, SHM analyses rugbys great divide Have Wales, Scotland and France got what it takes to beat the Boks?

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ts tough to get a feeling of where the bar is and how much of a divide there is between international sides. Thats the verdict of French international Antonie Claassen (son of Springbok great Wynand Claassen) when asked whether he felt there was a discernable gap between the quality of the rugby played in the northern and southern hemispheres. Its still one of international rugbys greatest challenges; the world game operates over two different seasons, effectively meaning that the only time teams face each another at their relative optimums is every four years at the Rugby World Cup. So as the Springboks pack their bags for Europe, theyre winding down after a mightily tough season that will officially end against a hungry French side in Paris (after difficult stopovers in Cardiff and Edinburgh). The three Tests provide a crucial litmus test for the Boks as they continue to build towards the Rugby World Cup in 2015 in England. Based on the performances of the Bok side so far this year, it would seem that theyd start all of those games as favourites. Last year, new coach Heyneke Meyer still far from secure in his job took a fledgling Springbok side to Europe. Theres no doubt that last years winter tour suited his inexperienced charges as they ground out a 16-12 win at the Aviva Stadium over Ireland, held on for a 21-10 victory over Scotland at Murrayfield and scraped to a 16-15 triumph over England at Twickenham. The 2013 tour, however, provides a far sterner test. Although Wales record against the Springboks is dismal, this conversely means that the target on the Springbok hide keeps growing larger. Since first meeting in

1906, Wales have only beaten South Africa once in 1999 in Cardiff (they also drew in 1970). Its a record that the hosts routinely use as motivation, and since the last meeting between the two sides was a narrow 17-16 win for the Springboks (the 2011 Rugby World Cup opener), the Welsh will be more confident than ever that 2013 might be their chance. And nobody will be more assured than Welsh coach Warren Gatland, who is still coming down from the high of leading the British and Irish Lions to a series victory over Australia; the core of that team was built around key members of his Wales squad. Wales loose-forward strength is particularly impressive and includes the likes of captain Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Toby Faletau, while the

The Scots always possess one perhaps even two shock victories in their armoury per year to give their fantastic fans enough hope to keep them believing until the next one.
unerring goal-kicking and coming-of-age of fullback Leigh Halfpenny sees him as perhaps their most lethal weapon.

Add to that the talent of wings Alex Cuthbert and George North and centre Jonanthan Davies, and Wales posses enough weapons to beat South Africa on the tours opening weekend. Scotland is a team that Heyneke Meyer will feel comfortable preparing for, having faced them in 2012 and then also edging them in a dramatic Test in Nelspruit in June this year. And then onto Paris where the Springboks havent beaten France since Pieter Rossouw glided over the Parc de Princes turf for Nick Malletts side to put the hosts to the sword in a 52-10 rout in 1997. In Meyers final hurrah of 2013, hell be hoping that Philippe Saint-Andrs sides propensity to be heavy on talent but up and down on form holds true.

France's number 8 Louis Picamoles (R) defies Wales' scrum-half Mike Phillips during the Six Nations Rugby Union match between France and Wales at the Stade de France (9 February 2013).

PHOTOS BY GALLO IMAgES / GETTy IMAgES / AFP

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Rugby

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wALEs
In recent times the Welsh rugby team has almost mirrored that of its national football team by producing a generation of exceptional talent. If we look at the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey and then compare them to players such as Sam Warburton (who was, incidentally, at school with Bale) and George North for instance, we find that in both cases theyre the cause of huge envy from neighbours England, and quite rightly so. Welsh rugby is rich in talent but the league itself continues to struggle, especially with the lure of French and now even English clubs for their top players. Four Welsh clubs play in the RaboDirect Pro 12 (formerly the Celtic League and Magners League), along with four teams from Ireland, and two each from Scotland and Italy. In the 2012/13 RaboDirect Pro12, the best Welsh side was Scarlets; they finished fourth on the log, but lost in the semi-finals to Ulster from Ireland. On the European stage (Heineken Cup), none of the Welsh teams made it out of the group stages a real worry for the Welsh Rugby Union but the spread of their player base, and exposure at various levels in Europe, sees them pose a real threat at international level. The battle to keep players like Warburton is ongoing, and its not one the region is winning, with the likes of Jamie Roberts having departed for Racing Metro in France, and more recently, George North going to Northampton. We can expect that exodus to continue. The Welsh obsession with beating the Springboks borders on the obsessive; its game on in Cardiff.

2013 WELSH LIOnS

Sam Warburton, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, George North, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Mike Phillips, Toby Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans

Although Wales record against the Springboks is dismal, this conversely means that the target on the Springbok hide keeps growing larger.
Wales took the honours in a tight, terse Six Nations this year, losing just their opening game to Ireland at home before edging out England on points difference in a dramatic end to the competition.

REcORd AgAInST THE SPRIngBOKS

Played 26 Lost 24 Won 1 Draw 1

GREAT WELSH PLAyERS

Gareth Edwards (1967-1978): Toured South Africa as part of the invincible 1974 British Lions; his try for the Barbarians in 1973 against the All Blacks considered by many the greatest ever. JPR Williams (19691981): Won three Grand Slams in his career; one of the inaugural inductees into the IRB Hall of Fame in 1997. Shane Williams (2000-2011); Wales leading try-scorer (58) and third on the all-time list; 2008 IRB Player of the Year.

PHOTOS BY GALLO IMAgES / GETTy IMAgES / AFP

FIxTURE
Wales vs South Africa Millennium Stadium 9 November KO: 7:30pm

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2013 ScOTTISH LIOnS

Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Richie Gray, Ryan Grant

REcORd AgAInST THE SPRIngBOKS

Played 23 Won 5 Lost 18

GREAT ScOTTISH PLAyERS

Andy Irvine (1972-1982): Went on three British & Irish Lions tours (1974 vs South Africa, 1977 vs New Zealand, 1980 vs South Africa); inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame. Gaving Hastings (1986-1995): For many years Scotlands leading points-scorer (667, only bettered by Chris Paterson); captained the British & Irish Lions on the 1993 tour of New Zealand. Ian Smith (19241933): Played in all four matches of Scotlands first Grand Slam in 1924; still jointly Scotlands top try-scorer (24).

FIxTURE
Scotland vs South Africa Murrayfield 16 November KO: 5:00pm

Scotland's Richie Gray (L) breaks a tackle from Ireland's Tommy Bowe (R) to score a try during the 6 Nations international rugby union match at the Aviva stadium in Dublin, Ireland (10 March 2013)

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PHOTOS BY GALLO IMAgES / GETTy IMAgES / AFP

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Rugby

sCOTLAND
At international level it always seems as if Scottish rugby plays a supporting act; a role designed to keep the so-called bigger nations in check. They always possess one perhaps even two shock victories in their armoury per year to give their fantastic fans enough hope to keep them believing until the next one. Domestically theyve savvily focused their energies on just two teams in a bid to keep their best talent within Scottish borders and to give these teams the highest profile possible on the European stage. The Glasgow Warriors featured strongly last season, with Edinburgh rugby less so, but they are making a real statement this season. Plying his trade in Glasgow now is former Golden Lions captain Josh Strauss, who has previously said that hed definitely consider playing internationally for Scotland if he became eligible. The Warriors (coached by former Scottish international Gregor Townsend) were losing semi-finalists in the Pro 12 last season (to Irish giants Leinster), while they unfortunately finished bottom of their Heineken Cup group with British & Irish Lions tourist, fullback Stuart Hogg, their star player. Theres also an added bite to the Edinburgh team these days, where former Southern Kings director of rugby Alan Solomons has taken over in the same capacity. The Southern Africa flavour runs deep in the capital, with Wicus Blaauw, Izak van der Westhuizen and Cornell du Preez all on their books, along with former Grahamstown schoolboy David Denton. Earlier this year, the Scottish team impressed on their tour of South Africa as they showed, under interim coach Scott Johnson, a real willingness to take on the Springboks in Nelspruit. Despite eventually falling short and making use of the liberal interpretation of the breakdown by referee Romain Poite as Johnson quite rightly pointed out its a game they could have won. In Nelspruit they were captained by the quintessential Scot in Greig Laidlaw who, despite his relatively diminutive frame, nearly led his country to a famous win over the Springboks with a superb personal display. They also had a relatively satisfactory Six Nations campaign earlier in the year, finishing third behind champions Wales and England, and beating both Italy and Ireland. In terms of strength, Scotland relies on a loose trio that features the spiky, French-based duo of Alasdair Strokosch and Johnnie Beattie, while in former Canterbury Crusaders wing Sean Maitland they possess a real strike finisher. Will it be enough? The Springboks have played in Edinburgh five times in the last decade, with one shock loss in 2010 under coach Peter de Villiers.

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Rugby

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FRANCE
The domestic rugby world is currently abuzz with Frances Top 14, a league that certainly dangles the weightiest financial carrots to world rugbys biggest stars. Its heady, exciting and puts the spotlight firmly on French rugby. Well, thats what the marketing people will have you believe The burning question, though, is how this affects the quality of the French national team? As yet, it hasnt prevented the country from continuing to produce some outstanding talent, with those in the know claiming that the added focus attracts more youngsters to forego the round ball for the oval-shaped one. With some of French rugbys biggest clubs the likes of Colomiers, Dax and Agen languishing in Pro D2 (the second division), it shows the strength of the game in the country and the breadth to which it is being played. Last years Top 14 final featured Castres (including the leagues top-scorer South Africas Rory Kockott, as well as Antonie Claassen) up against arguably the worlds most talked about rugby club, European champions Toulon. It was a tie that Castres just shaded in a shock 19-13 win, thereby denying players such as Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Joe van Niekerk and Jonny Wilkinson a unique season double. Remember, it wasnt so long ago that Toulon was playing in the Pro D2, but thanks to a fuel injection from their enormously charismatic and eclectic owner, Mourad Boudjellal, they have shot to the summit of the game in Europe. The strength of the French league, and therefore its playing base, lies in the large number of clubs, previously based on rather simple principles, who now have money and are rapidly improving their professional outlook. Its gratifying as a neutral to watch a game where on almost any given weekend one side can beat another. As always with the French, their temperament will be tested and its up to the Springboks to get up the noses of Philippe Saint-Andrs side in their final game of 2013. A huge ask, in Paris no less, where they havent won since 1997. France love playing the Springboks, with their fans appreciating the passion and commitment with which the Boks play the game. France will be even more eager to impress after they finished bottom of the Six Nations in 2013, having lost three games, including away to Italy. France are an outfit in transition, with a crop of hugely talented players being brought into the system, and as we head toward the 2015 Rugby World Cup, we could see them become a real force. The start of which could well be against the Springboks in Paris.

PLAyERS TO wATcH
Yoann Maestri, Wesley Fofana, Thierry Dusautoir, Camille Lopez, Bernard le Roux, Louis Picamoles, Gael Fickou, Alexis Palisson

REcORd AgAInST THE SPRIngBOKS

Played 38 Won 11 Lost 21

GREAT FREncH PLAyERS

Serge Blanco (1980-1991): Remembered for scoring the matchwinning try in the 1987 RWC semi-final; still Frances leading try-scorer (38); part of two Grand Slamwinning squads. Philippe Sella (1982-1995): Scored a try in each Five Nations game in 1986; played 111 times for France, for many years that stood as international rugbys record. Jean-Pierre Rives (1975-1984): Captained France on 24 occasions (a record at the time), including that countrys first win over the All Blacks; awarded Frances Order of the Legion of Honour.
PHOTOS BY GALLO IMAgES / GETTy IMAgES / AFP

FIxTURE
France vs South Africa, Stade de France, 23 November KO: 10:00pm

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The strength of the French league lies in the large number of clubs who now have money and are rapidly improving their professional outlook.

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