M
TS
Wednesday, October 30
Collect News Data
Oct 27, 2019 at 9am UK
Wales
16-19
South Africa
Adams (65')
FT
/esi/1339/6_G_4_36633/index.html?art_id=376324&game_id=36633&sport_id=4&ESI

South Africa prepared for set-piece war with Wales

:Headline: South Africa prepared for set-piece war with Wales:
The Springboks have named six forwards on their bench for what Handre Pollard expects to be a "gain-line battle".
PA | 3d

South Africa fly-half Handre Pollard is braced for a set-piece war against Wales in Sunday's World Cup semi-final at International Stadium Yokohama.

Rain is expected for the showdown and the Springboks have named a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench, but Pollard insists they are ready for all types of conditions.

"We don't select our team based on the weather, but going with the six-two split certainly helps when it's wet," the Bulls fly-half said.

"It's going to be a big set-piece battle and gain-line battle, whether it's dry or wet. We have prepared for that.

"Whatever comes our way, we'll handle it. Our gameplan suits dry and wet weather pretty well, so there won't be any major adjustments because of the weather.

"We've got the threat of attacking backs loaded, but if your boys are mauling and handling the set piece like our boys are at the moment, you are not going to stop."

South Africa are odds-on favourites to end a run of four defeats by Wales and Pollard, who will be winning his 47th cap, knows his role as ringmaster is to keep his big forwards moving.

"As a fly-half, you just let the boys go. It's my responsibility to keep our big boys going forward for the majority of the game," Pollard said.

"When you start turning around, it takes a lot out of your forwards, and you use a lot of energy.

"I try to keep them on the front foot for as long as possible, and when we get the opportunity to get our maul or set piece going, I must make sure they are ready to go.

"Wales know what they're good at and focus on that. They are relentless in those areas.

Handre Pollard is ready to take on Wales once again (David Davies/PA)

"They starve you of possession and territory, and enforce their kicking game on you.

"They take away your set piece. It's not a gameplan or rugby with a lot of flair in it, but it's suffocating.

"If you fall into that trap, they will enforce their gameplan on you for 80 minutes, and you will probably not win that match.

"Lately we've struggled against them. It's always our last game on the end-of-year tour, after a long season and in the Millennium Stadium.

"It's always tough and you never have all your guys fit and ready to go. So it's going to be nice to play them on a neutral ground with the teams having most of their guys available for selection."

body check tags ::
amp_article_376324 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2019-10-26 07:39:55:
html db last update - 2019-10-29 15:21:27 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Handre Pollard

Click here for more stories about South Africa

Share this article now:

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Wales vs. South Africa: The key talking points
Juventus scout Mohamed Salah, Son Heung-min?
Liverpool, Arsenal 'make contact with Zakaria'
Courtney Lawes: 'England need to be ready for anything in World Cup final'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool109102381528
2Manchester CityMan City107123292322
3Leicester CityLeicester106222581720
4Chelsea106222316720
5Arsenal104421514116
6Crystal Palace104331012-215
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd103431310313
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1034398113
9Bournemouth103431313013
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham103431214-213
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs103341615112
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves102621313012
13Burnley103341415-112
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton103341214-212
15Aston Villa103251516-111
16Everton103161016-610
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle10235615-99
18Southampton10226925-168
19Norwich CityNorwich102171124-137
20Watford10055521-165
Scroll for more - Tap for full version

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
UC
Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool109102381528
2Manchester CityMan City107123292322
3Leicester CityLeicester106222581720
4Chelsea106222316720
5Arsenal104421514116
6Crystal Palace104331012-215
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd103431310313
8Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1034398113
9Bournemouth103431313013
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham103431214-213
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs103341615112
12Wolverhampton WanderersWolves102621313012
13Burnley103341415-112
14Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton103341214-212
15Aston Villa103251516-111
16Everton103161016-610
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle10235615-99
18Southampton10226925-168
19Norwich CityNorwich102171124-137
20Watford10055521-165
Scroll for more - Tap for full version
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
X

We value your privacy

A part of our GDPR compliance we need to ask for your consent. We and our partners use technology such as cookies on Sports Mole to personalise content and ads, provide social media features, and analyse our traffic. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on Sports Mole.