Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / WELSH
Graphics Version | Change to International Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability sport | Olympics | Sport Relief | Other sport... | 606 | Sport Academy | Health & Fitness | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Rugby Union Contents:  Live scores | English | Irish | Scottish | Welsh | My Club | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved

07:13 GMT, Thursday, 15 May 2008 08:13 UK

Howley backs youth to shine in SA

Morgan Stoddart in action against South Africa last autumn

Backs coach Rob Howley says the young talent in Wales' depleted squad will do the business in South Africa.

"You have to blood the new players on the path to the World Cup in 2011, we are not going to bring in new players just before the tournament," he said.

"It's an important tour for the likes of Andrew Bishop, Bradley Davies and Morgan Stoddart.

"They certainly came through the eight days in Wales' training camp in Ireland with flying colours."

606: DEBATE
Give your thoughts on Wales' summer tour squad
Wales leave on 29 May and face the world champion Springboks in two Tests - at Bloemfontein's Vodacom Park on 7 June, followed by Pretoria's Loftus Versfeld the following Saturday.

"We are looking forward to it, it's a huge challenge," the former Wales and Lions scrum-half told BBC Sport Wales.

"Whether we're in Bloemfontein or Pretoria it is at altitude and will ask questions of us so the players know what's in front of them.

"We set our targets during the Six Nations and equally we are going to set targets in South Africa.

"The 2008 Grand Slam has gone. It's all about South Africa 2008"
Rob Howley

"The 2008 Grand Slam has gone. It's all about South Africa 2008. It's really important that once again we re-visit what we achieved, but we need to take it on to the next level and what better place to go than the home of the world champions.

"It will definitely be a strong South Africa and I think it's a good thing for world rugby that there are going to be no quotas.

"They've come out and said that so the likes of Victor Matfield, who's playing in the northern hemisphere, are going to be selected and whether the Stormers or Sharks get through to the semi-final of the Super 14 affects the numbers they will name in their squad at the weekend.

"They intended to name 45, but will now name 22 additions to that squad.

"From an analytical point of view it's going to be difficult to judge and with Dick Muir, the new assistant coaching being brought on-board, it's going to be a difficult time for the analysis group."

Rob Howley in action on the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa Howley toured South Africa with the 1997 Lions under Ian McGeechan, and he had words of support for the Scot after he was named as the man to lead the Lions against the Springboks in 2009.

"Ian is a top-quality coach, he's done it so many times for the Lions," said Howley.

"It was great to be a part of the 1997 tour with Ian and of course I'm sure he'll have an eye on what happens on the tour with Wales and the Welsh players.

"Deep down, when I was a player in Lions year you always know you have to perform.

"Those players who feel they are going to be under the microscope, well that level goes up again and I'm sure if you look at the 2008 Six Nations many of our players are going to be under the eye.

"It's for them to set the answers for Ian McGeechan."



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Charvis out of Wales tour squad (14 May 08 |  Welsh )
Wales have an edge - De Villiers (07 May 08 |  Welsh )
Botha predicts Wales tour epic (23 Mar 08 |  Welsh )
Wales urged to prove 'greatness' (17 Mar 08 |  Welsh )
Gatland wants Springboks' scalp (16 Mar 08 |  Welsh )
Wales' rugby fixtures (26 Jun 07 |  Welsh )
Wales rugby results archive (15 Oct 03 |  Welsh )
Mighty Boks: South African rugby (07 Nov 07 |  Rugby Union )
Wales v South Africa: Full record (28 Sep 06 |  Rugby Union )
South Africa anthem (28 Sep 06 |  Rugby Union )
BBC Sport Wales coverage (23 Mar 08 |  Wales )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
International Rugby Board
Welsh Rugby Union
BBC Where I Live - Wales
Rugby union weather
Scrum V homepage
Your say - 606
Welsh rugby webguide
SA Rugby
Pick your Wales XV
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Motorsport | Boxing | Athletics | Snooker | Horse Racing | Cycling | Disability sport | Olympics | Sport Relief | Other sport... | 606 | Sport Academy | Health & Fitness | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Rugby Union Contents:  Live scores | English | Irish | Scottish | Welsh | My Club | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©