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Dragons puffed up for Boks
09/04/2008 22:07 - (SA)
Morris Gilbert , Beeld
Pretoria - There are three important reasons for Wales looking forward to their rugby tour of South Africa more than Welsh teams have done in previous years says Alan Phillips, manager of the Red Dragons.
Phillips returned to the UK on Wednesday after a short reconnaissance tour of South Africa.
The Welsh play South Africa in Bloemfontein on June 7 and meet the Springboks in the second Test a week later in Pretoria.
Phillips said Wales, as the new Six Nations champions and only unbeaten side in the northern hemisphere last season, had the confidence of a winning side.
And for the first time in many years it seems they will have their best players available for a South African tour. The only player whose availability is still doubtful is scrumhalf Mike Phillips
The Welsh should be a real threat to the World Cup champions because they will be much better prepared this time.
"When we last played the Springboks in South Africa (at Loftus Versfeld in 2004) we flew here from Argentina and our preparations suffered because of jet lag," Phillips said.
He realises the Dragons will have to be at the top of their game to beat the Springboks on their home turf - something Welsh teams have been unable to do on six tours of South Africa.
The nearest Wales have been to a Test win in South Africa was when they lost 19-8 in the second Test in Cape Town in 2002.
Proud team
"The Springboks have always been one of the world's leading teams and we know only our very best will be good enough to beat them," Phillips said.
"Our Six Nations success has given much more meaning to the series against South Africa because it will be the World Cup champions against the Six Nations champions."
Phillips feels the metamorphosis in Welsh rugby since the World Cup tournament in France last year is due to former All Black hooker and former Irish coach Warren Gatland and his coaching staff.
"Under Warren and his men Wales have become a proud team with proud players again."
The Test series against the World Cup champions could not have come at a better time because Wales have to prove they can be a rugby power outside the Six Nations.
"That's why our celebrations after the Six Nations did not last long. We started concentrating on South Africa the week after our win over France.
"The test of our ability to be a consistently good team will be the way we manage to carry on against the Springboks from where we stopped in the Six Nations."
The Welsh will arrive in South Africa on May 29. They intend to send a squad of 28 players and will be based in Cape Town while they prepare for the first Test.
- Beeld
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