Ruddock to pick Ireland's brains

Wales coach Mike Ruddock is hoping Ireland’s inside knowledge of South Africa will help the tourists gain a historic first away win over the Springboks for his side.

Ruddock’s team were the only Northern Hemisphere side to claim victory over a Southern Hemisphere rival at the weekend and that was achieved after Wales were among the whitewash involving England, Scotland and Ireland the previous Saturday.

But while Wales were levelling their Test series against Argentina with a 35-20 win, fitness coach Huw Bevan and an advance-guard of 10 players were on a spying mission having travelled to South Africa last Wednesday.

The Springboks secured a 2-0 series win over Eddie O’Sullivan’s Triple Crown holders, who have agreed that Bevan can collect video tapes and analysis data collated by Ireland as Wales as they prepare for the encounter at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Ruddock, who is well known in Irish rugby circles having coached Leinster and Bective Rangers, is also hoping to speak to O’Sullivan in the build-up to the clash.

Ruddock said: “Huw Bevan got to South Africa early with a group of our tour squad and is trying to get information from the Irish team. Alan Phillips, our team manager has been in touch with them and they have been very accommodating in agreeing to leave a lot of their stuff behind for us.

“I am hoping to get hold of Eddie O’Sullivan and if I do that will be the bonus. They are looking to leave the videos and codes that we need to settle in to our progress in what will be a very difficult week because there is so little time available to us.

“Having worked in Ireland I know how friendly and professional they are and I am sure the information they can give us could prove useful.”

Another Irishman, referee Donal Courtney, played an important role in Wales’ win by explaining his interpretation of the tackle area to Ruddock in a pre-match meeting. Courtney was in charge as Wales lost 50-44 to the Pumas in the first Test.

Ruddock said: “As regards the meeting with the referee, who is a professional official, he explained what he wanted to see at the rucks and would not be swayed by my perspective of the tackle area and I came away from that meeting with a better perspective of his view of the tackle area.

“I was able to tell my players what he expected.”

Meanwhile Wales skipper Colin Charvis has warned that in the wake of their 35-20 win over the Pumas and particularly the manner it was achieved, he and his team-mates cannot be regarded as a soft touch.

He said, “The main thing that we focused on in the build-up to the second Test was our attitude. In the first Test in Tucuman we were very soft – our defence was very soft and we made some basic mistakes and that is something we tried to improve upon.

“Because of the referee’s interpretations we felt it was important to improve our control of the ball at ruck and maul. For the first half of the second Test we played that game and it worked for us.

“Unfortunately we didn’t play our rugby for 80 minutes and when we go up against South Africa we have to play for the full game or we will be punished and that will be our main focus in preparations for that game.”