Gatland looks to earn respect of Springboks

Warren Gatland believes Wales will have enjoyed a successful summer tour if they return home with the respect of the Springboks.

The Welsh face South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday in the first of two Tests that matches this year’s Grand Slam winners against the reigning world champions.

Gatland has been careful not to make any bold predictions over what his side can achieve over the next 10 days but is determined to leave a lasting impression on the Springboks.

“It’s important to see how much progress we need to make over the next couple of years,” he said.

“We want to earn some respect from the South African players and public. That’s very important for us.

“For me the gauge of a successful tour will be if we’ve left here with some respect. We want to play well and put South Africa under a lot of pressure.

“We’ve done well in the Six Nations but that’s just a stepping stone to us getting better as a side.”

Wales are scheduled for a rest day today and will crank up their analysis of the Springboks tomorrow as they look for possible chinks in the armour.

Gatland has welcomed the appointment of English official Dave Pearson as referee and claims Wales’ chances of success might be improved by the rules being used.

The Super 14 season, which finished last weekend, has been played under the new Experimental Law Variations but they have been abandoned for both Tests.

“Tomorrow and Friday we’ll really start concentrating on South Africa, looking at their strengths and weaknesses,” he said.

“There may be one or two opportunities for us there. But from our point of view it’s more important to have a referee who we’re more familiar with in Dave Pearson.

“Maybe it will give us a slight advantage that the South African players haven been operating under the ELVs while we have been using the older rules.”

It was suggested in the South African media yesterday that Wales should be concerned by the ferocity with which the Springboks have trained this week.

When asked if he was worried that the home players will enter the series hardened by a season of Super 14 rugby, Gatland was generous in his praise of the opposition.

“That’s one of the biggest fears we’ve got – how physical and fit these South African players are from the Super 14,” he said.

“We’re expecting a very tough, physical game, so we’ve picked a forward pack that needs to compete.”

Gatland could have pointed out that his players are also nearing the end of a gruelling campaign – topped by their Grand Slam heroics – and will hardly be under-cooked for the series.