2008 Wales rugby union tour of South Africa

March 2014 March 2014 2008 mid-year rugby union tests 7–14 June 2008 Wales 2008 Warren Gatland Ryan Jones Stephen Jones (18) Shane Williams (2) 2 0 0 2 RSA 2 0 0 2 Australia 2007 North America 2009 The Wales national rugby union team toured South Africa in June 2008, playing two matches against the South Africa national team. South Africa won both tests, winning 43–17 in Bloemfontein on 7 June and 37–21 in Pretoria a week later. Fixtures The venue for the first match was put in doubt due to ongoing work at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The schedule for the tour was confirmed on 27 March 2008; the first match would be played at the Free State Stadium on 7 June 2008 as scheduled, with the second at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria a week later.Wales set South Africa tour plans http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7316561.stm BBC Sport 27 March 2008 23 February 2024 The winners of the series would win the Prince William Cup, a trophy first awarded at the teams' previous meeting in Cardiff in November 2007.Prince watches Wales lose his cup http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7110794.stm BBC Sport 24 November 2007 23 February 2024 Prince William Cup to go on display https://www.wru.wales/2008/02/prince-william-cup-to-go-on-display/ Welsh Rugby Union 8 February 2008 23 February 2024 The matches were not played using the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) that had been trialled during the 2008 Super 14 season, which South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said gave Wales an advantage.Wales have an edge - De Villiers http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7387205.stm BBC Sport 7 May 2008 23 February 2024 DateVenue Home Score Away7 June 2008Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinSouth Africa43–17Wales14 June 2008Loftus Versfeld Stadium, PretoriaSouth Africa37–21Wales Squads Wales Wales went into the tour as reigning Six Nations champions and unbeaten under new coach Warren Gatland, for whom this was his first tour in charge. After an intensive fitness camp in Ireland that included uncapped scrum-half Warren Fury,Gatland names Training Squad https://community.wru.wales/2008/04/29/gatland-names-training-squad/ Welsh Rugby Union 29 April 2008 23 February 2024 Gatland named an initial squad of 27 for the tour.Charvis out of Wales tour squad http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7398974.stm BBC Sport 14 May 2008 23 February 2024 Several members of Wales' Grand Slam-winning team were left out due to injury, including flankers Martyn Williams and Robin Sowden-Taylor (shoulder), full-back Lee Byrne, centre Gavin Henson (ankle), and scrum-halves Mike Phillips (knee) and Dwayne Peel (shoulder),Sowden-Taylor out of Wales tour http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7318953.stm BBC Sport 28 March 2008 23 February 2024 Phillips ruled out for six months http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7318216.stm BBC Sport 28 March 2008 23 February 2024 Peel adds to Wales injury worries http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7373145.stm BBC Sport 29 April 2008 23 February 2024 Henson ruled out of summer tour http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7372005.stm BBC Sport 1 May 2008 23 February 2024 Gatland suffering injury crisis http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7381767.stm BBC Sport 3 May 2008 23 February 2024 while number 8 Alix Popham ruled himself out ahead of a summer move to French club Brive.Popham pulls out of Wales plans http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7376208.stm BBC Sport 2 May 2008 23 February 2024 Fellow back row Colin Charvis was left out after his club, the Newport Gwent Dragons, refused to release him for the training camp in Ireland.Dragons block Charvis' Wales call http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/ng_dragons/7385897.stm BBC Sport 6 May 2008 23 February 2024 Meanwhile, wing Mark Jones recovered from groin surgery in time to be picked.Winger Jones on recovery course http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/llanelli_scarlets/7367923.stm BBC Sport 11 May 2008 23 February 2024 Hooker Huw Bennett (ankle) and uncapped scrum-half Andy Williams (back) later also pulled out injured;Williams ruled out of Wales tour http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7409247.stm BBC Sport 25 May 2008 23 February 2024 Bennett was replaced by Ospreys scrum-half Richard Hibbard, while Williams was not replaced, leaving Fury as the only recognised back-up to Gareth Cooper, although wing Shane Williams said he would fill in at scrum-half if asked, having begun his career playing the position for Amman United.Williams offers scrum-half option http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7421322.stm BBC Sport 27 May 2008 23 February 2024 As well as Fury, lock Bradley Davies and centre Andrew Bishop were the other uncapped players included in the squad. Cardiff Blues hooker T. Rhys Thomas was called into the squad after Matthew Rees suffered a calf injury in the first test.Wales call Thomas after Rees blow http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7442764.stm BBC Sport 8 June 2008 24 February 2024 Name Position Club Notes Huw Bennett Hooker Ospreys Withdrew due to ankle injury Richard Hibbard Hooker Ospreys Injury replacement for Huw Bennett Matthew Rees Hooker Llanelli Scarlets T. Rhys Thomas Hooker Cardiff Blues Injury replacement for Matthew Rees Gethin Jenkins Prop Cardiff Blues Adam Jones rugby union, born 1981 Prop Ospreys Duncan Jones rugby union Prop Ospreys Rhys M. Thomas Prop Newport Gwent Dragons Bradley Davies Lock Cardiff Blues Ian Evans rugby union Lock Ospreys Ian Gough Lock Ospreys Alun Wyn Jones Lock Ospreys Gareth Delve Back row Gloucester Dafydd Jones Back row Llanelli Scarlets Ryan Jones Back row Ospreys Captain Jonathan Thomas Back row Ospreys Gareth Cooper Scrum-half Gloucester Warren Fury Scrum-half London Irish Andy Williams rugby union Scrum-half Newport Gwent Dragons Withdrew due to back injury James Hook rugby union Fly-half Ospreys Stephen Jones rugby union Fly-half Llanelli Scarlets Andrew Bishop Centre Ospreys Sonny Parker rugby union Centre Ospreys Jamie Roberts Centre Cardiff Blues Tom Shanklin Centre Cardiff Blues Tom James rugby union, born 1987 Wing Cardiff Blues Mark Jones rugby union, born 1979 Wing Llanelli Scarlets Shane Williams Wing Ospreys Morgan Stoddart Full-back Llanelli Scarlets South Africa The two matches against Wales were South Africa's first at home since being crowned world champions in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final against England. In January 2008, they appointed Peter de Villiers as their head coach, replacing Jake White, whose contract expired at the end of 2007.De Villiers named Springbok coach http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7178927.stm BBC Sport 9 January 2008 23 February 2024 Selecting predominantly from the pool of players based in South Africa, as per a ruling by the South African Rugby Union board,Boks coach warns overseas players http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7368781.stm BBC Sport 26 April 2008 23 February 2024 De Villiers named a 30-man squad for the series against Wales and the match against Italy the following week; he picked four uncapped players, including Zimbabwe-born props Tendai Mtawarira and Brian Mujati, but there were several injury absentees from the side that won the World Cup, including centre Jaque Fourie, flanker Schalk Burger (knee) and scrum-half Fourie du Preez (hand).South Africa name four new faces http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7423710.stm BBC Sport 28 May 2008 23 February 2024 Burger a doubt for visit of Wales http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7370280.stm BBC Sport 27 April 2008 23 February 2024 Springboks suffer Du Preez blow http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7402976.stm BBC Sport 17 May 2008 23 February 2024 Wing Bryan Habana and lock Bakkies Botha were included in the squad after the resolution of a legal dispute between Botha and the South African Rugby Union over his planned move to French second division side Toulon.Strike threat to Springbok tour http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/7370492.stm BBC Sport 28 April 2008 23 February 2024 Name Position Club Notes Bismarck du Plessis Hooker Natal Sharks/Sharks John Smit Hooker Natal Sharks/Sharks Captain BJ Botha Prop Natal Sharks/Sharks Tendai Mtawarira Prop Natal Sharks/Sharks Brian Mujati Prop Golden Lions/Lions Gurthrö Steenkamp Prop Blue Bulls/Bulls CJ van der Linde Prop Free State Cheetahs/Cheetahs Andries Bekker Lock Western Province/Stormers Bakkies Botha Lock Blue Bulls/Bulls Victor Matfield Lock Blue Bulls/Bulls Ryan Kankowski Back row Natal Sharks/Sharks Danie Rossouw Back row Blue Bulls/Bulls Juan Smith Back row Free State Cheetahs/Cheetahs Pierre Spies Back row Blue Bulls/Bulls Joe van Niekerk Back row Western Province/Stormers Luke Watson Back row Western Province/Stormers Bolla Conradie Scrum-half Western Province/Stormers Ricky Januarie Scrum-half Western Province/Stormers Ruan Pienaar Scrum-half Natal Sharks/Sharks Peter Grant rugby union Fly-half Western Province/Stormers Butch James Fly-half Bath Gcobani Bobo Centre Western Province/Stormers Jean de Villiers Centre Western Province/Stormers Adrian Jacobs Centre Natal Sharks/Sharks François Steyn Centre Natal Sharks/Sharks Tonderai Chavhanga Wing Western Province/Stormers Bryan Habana Wing Blue Bulls/Bulls Odwa Ndungane Wing Natal Sharks/Sharks Conrad Jantjes Full-back Western Province/Stormers Percy Montgomery Full-back Perpignan Results First test 7 June 2008 RSA 43–17 Report WAL JantjesDe VilliersSpiesMontgomery James (4) James (5) RobertsWilliams S. Jones (2) S. Jones Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein 32,685 Dave Pearson (England) FB 15Conrad JantjesRW 14Tonderai ChavhangaOC 13Adrian Jacobs 32 45 62IC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch James 74SH 9 Bolla Conradie 57N8 8 Pierre SpiesOF 7 Juan Smith 74BF 6 Luke WatsonRL 5 Andries Bekker 46LL 4 Bakkies Botha 58 64TP 3 Brian Mujati 46HK 2 John Smit (c) 57LP 1 Gurthro Steenkamp 24 32Replacements:HK 16Bismarck du Plessis 57PR 17CJ van der Linde 74 24 32 46LK 18Victor Matfield 46FL 19Danie Rossouw 58 64 74SH 20Ruan Pienaar 57FH 21Peter Grant 32 45 74FB 22Percy Montgomery 62Coach:Peter de Villiers350px FB 15Jamie Roberts 54RW 14Mark JonesOC 13Tom ShanklinIC 12Sonny ParkerLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen Jones 54SH 9 Gareth Cooper 62N8 8 Ryan Jones (c)OF 7 Dafydd Jones 58BF 6 Jonathan ThomasRL 5 Alun Wyn Jones 54LL 4 Ian Gough 68TP 3 Adam JonesHK 2 Matthew Rees 54LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16Richard Hibbard 74 54PR 17Duncan Jones 54LK 18Ian Evans 68N8 19Gareth Delve 58SH 20Warren Fury 62FH 21James Hook 54FB 22Morgan Stoddart 54Coach:NZL Warren Gatland Second test 14 June 2008 RSA 37–21 Report WAL De Villiers (2)JanuarieDu Plessis James (4) James (3) CooperWilliams S. Jones S. Jones (3) Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria 41,250 Lyndon Bray (New Zealand) FB 15Conrad JantjesRW 14Tonderai Chavhanga 64OC 13Adrian Jacobs 60IC 12Jean de VilliersLW 11Bryan HabanaFH 10Butch JamesSH 9 Ricky Januarie 72N8 8 Pierre Spies 60OF 7 Juan Smith 60BF 6 Luke WatsonRL 5 Victor MatfieldLL 4 Bakkies Botha 64TP 3 BJ BothaHK 2 John Smit (c)LP 1 Tendai Mtawarira 61Replacements:HK 16Bismarck du Plessis 60PR 17Gurthro Steenkamp 61LK 18Andries Bekker 64N8 19Ryan Kankowski 60SH 20Bolla Conradie 72CE 21François Steyn 60FB 22Percy Montgomery 64Coach:Peter de Villiers350px FB 15James HookRW 14Mark Jones 77OC 13Tom Shanklin 67IC 12Jamie RobertsLW 11Shane WilliamsFH 10Stephen JonesSH 9 Gareth Cooper 75N8 8 Gareth Delve 24OF 7 Jonathan ThomasBF 6 Ryan Jones (c) 67RL 5 Alun Wyn JonesLL 4 Ian GoughTP 3 Rhys M. Thomas 70HK 2 Richard Hibbard 72LP 1 Gethin JenkinsReplacements:HK 16T. Rhys Thomas 72PR 17Duncan Jones 70LK 18Ian Evans 67FL 19Dafydd Jones 24SH 20Warren Fury 75CE 21Andrew Bishop 67WG 22Tom James 77Coach:NZL Warren Gatland References Category:2008 rugby union tours Category:2007–08 in Welsh rugby union Category:2008 in South African rugby union 2008 2008 Category:History of rugby union matches between South Africa and Wales