Nervous Boks a 'World Cup trial' for Wales
JUNE SPOTLIGHT: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is nervous about his first Test in charge of the national team.
And he has good reason to be.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland has put his team on notice, ahead of their three-Test June tour – which gets underway with a clash against the Boks in Washington, United States, this coming Saturday.
That is followed by two Tests against Argentina, in San Juan on June 9 and 16.
However, it is the encounter with the Boks that will set the tone for the understrength Welsh team.
Notable absentees include Taulupe Faletau, Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies, Ken Owens and Alun Wyn Jones – who have been given the mid-year tour off, following their exploits with The British & Irish Lions.
Speaking to the team ahead of their departure to America this week, Gatland made it clear the players are ‘on trial’ ahead of next year’s World Cup in Japan.
“There are 30 [players in camp],” Gatland told the team, adding: “There are probably 10 or 11 guys [that are] not here [on tour].
“The World Cup squad is going to be 31 [players strong;. From [those that are] here, probably 20 guys are going to go to the World Cup squad.
“It [this tour] is an opportunity for you [the players] to make an impression.”
Utility back Hallam Amos took the message on board.
The 23-year-old may already have 15 caps at fullback, but he also sees the Test against South Africa in Washington and the double-header in Argentina as a chance to cement a spot in the World Cup squad.
The Dragons speedster gets his chance in the absence of rested British and Irish Lions Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams.
He is looking to climb back up the pecking order, having been sidelined with injury during this year’s Six Nations.
“Going on tour, hopefully gives me the chance to stake my claim going into a World Cup year,” he told . It’s crucial now,” said Amos.
“If you want to go far in the World Cup then you have to put in the hours and hopefully I will be in the mix this time next year.”
Assistant coach Rob Howley said their goal is to win all three Tests on tour.
“Having been to Argentina as a player, it’s about making sure you just focus on the game,”Howley said.
“We want three wins.
“Argentina, having been there as a player, is just making sure that you focus on the game of rugby, rather than the other things – such as a bus being late or not turning up.
“It’s just making sure there are no distractions and making sure you do take responsibility and accountability for doing what you can on the field of play.
“It’s going to be tough and it’s a great opportunity to have a game prior to those two Tests, against South Africa, because international rugby is a step up in intensity.
“It certainly helped us in 2017 playing England prior to going to New Zealand.
“That certainly gave us a step up and gave us a platform in terms of what we expected for the first Test.”
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