Three Wales changes for Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa

This week, the theme is simple and one suspects something that has been drummed into his players from the moment they carried their battered and bruised bodies to the Twickenham changing rooms following the 15-6 defeat to Australia.

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has insisted youth is no bar to success ahead of the Springboks’ World Cup quarter-final against Wales, citing Boris Becker, Mike Tyson and even Alexander the Great as evidence.

Despite their bad luck with injuries, Wales pride themselves on their fitness.

On the plus side for the Welsh, they beat South Africa in Cardiff last November, and came through the toughest group of the tournament. Wales should do the same.

Making up for the delay in preparations, and using the performance of the Japanese national team to increase profits – the organizing committee will need to make strategic efforts to ensure the next World Cup is a success.

This includes All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, Wales coach Warren Gatland, Scotland coach Vern Cotter and Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.

Wales’ record against South Africa is poor but I’m sure he’ll be telling his boys this has nothing to do with history.

In contrast, Australia have been growing in maturity and humility with every game, and their defensive effort against Wales with 13 men was defining. In Contrast the possession concious Irish, carried the ball over the gain line on 87 occasions, risking only three offloads and making just two clean breaks.

“We had analyzed them and we were all prepared, but what let us down was our penalties”.

The days between the end of the World Cup pool games and the start of the knockout phase are a few of the hardest to navigate.

The match will be South Africa’s first at Twickenham in this Rugby World Cup but for their opposition side Wales it will be their third as many weeks.

Taulupe Faletau has been the best No 8 in the competition so far.

“The coaches they have got there are very similar to here (with Wales)”.

Sexton limped off in the first half of the victory over France and initially it looked like his injury would be serious enough to force him out of the tournament, following the blow of the loss of lock Paul O’Connell and flanker Peter O’Mahony.

“We know what’s coming with South Africa”. That is going to be one of the key head-to-heads in the game.

Pollard’s a fearless guy but he’s not a dominant tackler.

Damian de Allende at 12 is a very good player but he’s quite an inexperienced Test player. Pietersen and Bryan Habana each have a hat trick of tries in the tournament, and share nine tries overall.

“We came back from New Zealand in 2011 feeling a little unfulfilled in that we had done something reasonably special but hadn’t reached the final with that sending off of Sam. That’s the game I enjoy playing”. “If we stop criticising then they should worry, because it means we don’t care”.

Instead, they must give George North and Co. the chance to chase down the catchers and pin them in their own territory.

Here’s a statistic for you: South Africa have lost four of their eight fixtures this calendar year, and they did so the year before, too. The trademarks of this team have been quick passing, attacks that continue for many phases, and low, sharp tackling.

That’s when they start to feel the pressure of the scoreboard and the pressure of the clock and they do not play as they would like.

The Springbok back row thrives on getting its big men in over the ball, and they are ably assisted by hooker Bismarck du Plessis, who acts as a fourth, unofficial member of that gang.

There is one big difference, though.

“I am buzzing. I have put a lot of hard work into this, and it’s just a relief that you get that place and you get that opportunity”.