Six Nations champions Wales will be looking to match everything the Springboks throw at them in the next fortnight when the teams meet in a two-Test series. But coach Warren Gatland said he was expecting no miracles from his injury-depleted squad that arrived in South Africa on Friday morning.
Wales players are set to be exposed to a week of training at a cryotherapy centre ahead of the Six Nations Grand Slam winners’ two Test tour of South Africa in June, coach Warren Gatland announced on Tuesday. Cryotherapy is a process in which the body is briefly subjected to extremely low temperatures below -110°C.
Warren Gatland has promised he will select his strongest possible Wales squad when his Six Nations title-holders travel to world champions South Africa for a two-Test tour in June. Northern hemisphere sides have often been criticised for taking weakened teams on their travels to the Tri-Nations countries at the end of a long European season.
Wales coach Warren Gatland will take his strongest available side to South Africa for two Tests against the world champions in June after guiding his team to the Six Nations grand slam in his first season in charge. In recent years, Six Nations sides have rested leading players when travelling to the Southern Hemisphere in the off-season.
All hail the Six Nations, the tournament that never ceases to surprise and fascinate. Having scraped one victory last season and gone home from the World Cup early, Wales looked to be continuing their downward spiral when they trailed England 19-6 with 20 minutes remaining of their opening match on February 2.
A lone try from winger Shane Williams handed Wales a 16-12 win over Ireland and the Triple Crown after a tight Six Nations clash at Croke Park on Saturday. Unbeaten Wales, with four wins from four in the tournament, can clinch their second Grand Slam in four years if they beat France in Cardiff next Saturday.
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/ 10 February 2008
Shane Williams scored two tries as Wales beat Scotland 30-15 at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday to make it back-to-back Six Nations wins under new coach Warren Gatland. But they found it hard to finally see off a Scotland side that stayed in the game until the final quarter thanks to the boot of the recalled Chris Paterson.
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/ 1 December 2007
Jake White’s last match as coach of world champions South Africa ended with a defeat as the invitational Barbarians beat the Springboks 22-5 in a non-cap international at Twickenham on Saturday. The Barbarians outscored South Africa three tries to one with Australia’s Matt Giteau, Wales flanker Martyn Williams and Wallaby forward Rocky Elsom all crossing the line.
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/ 27 November 2007
Johan Ackermann joined South Africa on Monday as cover in case injured lock Bakkies Botha was unavailable for the Springboks’ season finale against the Barbarians this weekend. Botha hurt his ankle in the Boks’ 34-12 win over Wales at Cardiff on Saturday.
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/ 29 September 2007
Fiji created the biggest shock of the World Cup so far with a sensational 38-34 win over Wales on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1987. The Pacific islanders produced a wonderful opening period to lead 25-10 at the break and put themselves on course for the runners-up spot in Pool B.
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/ 20 September 2007
Wales rediscovered their attacking spirit to rout Japan 72-18 in their World Cup Pool B match at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday. They had the bonus point in the bag by halftime after four tries in the first 40 minutes and kept up the tempo after the break to score 11 in total.