WALES forwards coach Robin McBryde warns his pack to beware of some big players in the South African pack ahead of Saturday’s Millennium Stadium clash.
McBryde singles out prop Beast Mtawarira, Adam Jones’ opponent in his 50th appearance for Wales, skipper John Smit, who moves from hooker to tight head, as well as Bismark du Plessis, who plays at hooker, and flanker Schalk Burger.
“It’s the first time Adam and the Beast have met and I’m sure Adam is very much relishing the prospect,” he said. “He will want to gain the upper hand, but the Beast has come on in leaps and bounds - he had a great Tri Nations and Currie Cup.
“I spoke to Smit after the second Test in South Africa and he said then he was considering making the move. His club Clermont Auvergne had been wanting to field Ledesma at hooker and he was to make the switch at that level.
“The Springboks obviously wanted to find room for Bismarck du Plessis and he is another quality player that we need to be aware of, but John is a big, strong player with a wise head on his shoulders and moving over shouldn’t be a problem for someone of his quality and stature in the game.
“Burger is a talisman for them isn’t he? “He plays with a very aggressive attitude and is destructive both in defence and attack and he gives them a huge amount of go forward.
“But if we concentrate on one player we will leave ourselves open in other areas. “The Springbok pack is strong from one to eight and they can all carry ball so we will have to be right at the very top of our own game if we are to get what we want at the end of the day.”
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