Scott Gibbs believes Gareth Anscombe could be the “skeleton key” to unlock a famous series victory for Wales over South Africa, with a big onus on Dan Biggar to only take the field if he is 100 per cent fit.
Skipper Biggar had to come off with a shoulder injury during the second Test in Bloemfontein, opening the way for Anscombe to guide the tourists to a historic 13-12 triumph, setting up Josh Adams’ late try and then landing the match-winning conversion from wide out.
Read next: South Africa name formidable team for Wales decider amid 10 changes as superstars return
Biggar says he is desperate to be involved in Saturday’s series decider in Cape Town, but former Wales and Lions great Gibbs says the fly-half must be 100 per cent convinced he is 100 per cent fit before making himself available. He also feels Anscombe, with his different style of play, could be the man for the job this weekend after his super-sub display in the second Test.
Speaking on the Money Man show on the SARugbyMag website, Gibbs said: “There is a big onus on Dan Biggar because we know how beautiful and brave he is. His application to his body of work is significant. But he must know within himself ‘I am no good if I am 80 per cent, I need to be 100 per cent’.
“Gareth Anscombe’s game is totally different. Maybe this is the skeleton key that Wales need to take home a series victory that hasn’t been done in the history of the game. We have to have a big shout out for Gareth. The guy has been through two and a half years of terrible injury woes.
“To come on in that cauldron and grab the game by the scruff of the neck, it was just phenomenal. For him to have touches in the build-up to the try - with the oncoming rush of the ‘Boks and the clock running down - and then to close it out, I just thought it was majestic. He’s a super classy player.”
Gibbs, who is now based in South Africa, has been hugely encouraged by the performances from Wayne Pivac’s team, who were only denied a share of the spoils by the last kick of the game in the first Test and then bounced back from that heartbreak to win the re-match.
“There have been a lot of good things have come out of this tour for Wales. There’s been a fine debut by Tommy Reffell, a Man of the Match performance last weekend. The balance of that back row, in the context of who they have been up against, has been just magnificent. Dan Lydiate put in one of his best performance on Saturday and nails himself down and you’ve got the class of Toby Faletau. That back row balance is ideal to come up against this ‘Bok team.
“Wales have shown character and character is destiny. Someone can’t give it to you and nobody can take it away. They have shown enormous character and resolve. Even when you felt the South African punches were landing hard around the hour mark last weekend, Wales found another breath to stay in the game and deal with the adversities.
“You could see in the last five minutes that they believed in themselves. They finished strong, so there’s a huge amount of confidence and belief that comes out of that. Winning ugly is still winning and that’s the most important thing.
“Wales have had two highly octane, oxygen-rich weeks up at altitude and will be fizzing. I think this weekend should be explosive. There is a lot of interest here now because of last Saturday.”
As for what he is expecting from Pivac’s team in the decider, former centre Gibbs said: “I don’t think the fundamentals are going to change much from Wales. When you look at Stephen Jones as their backs coach and Neil Jenkins as their kicking coach, you have got two masterclass guys that have got nearly 40 years of history between them. So they know how to pepper the sky, there is no doubt about that.
“We have seen this Welsh team adopt a very robust defensive play that has frustrated their opponents over the last two weeks. So far, the whole directness of the Springboks' ploy hasn’t worked because it’s enabled Tommy Reffell to get over the ball, slow it down, get turnovers.
“The 'Boks will have to be aware that they are going to have to change some things because they have come unstuck when it comes to trying unlock this Welsh defence. When was the last time the ‘Boks failed to score a try on home soil? Listen, the pressure is firmly in the ‘Bok camp.”
Gibbs concluded: “Wales have more than a sniff and a shout at this. They know exactly what is coming at them. They just have to be there right in the final seconds to do what they have been doing. They have bent, but they haven’t been broken yet. I think it’s a thrilling climax to the series.
“We have 1200 or so Welsh players that have tried over the last 108 years to win one Test in South Africa. Now this lucky 23 - or 35 plus the management - have been able to do that. Now they are in rarified air with a chance to do what two weeks ago was impossible. How good is that?”
The programme host, Kevin Ferguson, predicted Wales were “in for a hiding” because of the quality of the South African backs and forwards, but Gibbs made it clear he has real belief in the character of the Welsh team.
READ NEXT:
- Gareth Edwards at 75 as rugby's greatest gets special present
-
Graham Price names the Wales team Pivac should name and the improvement needed for deciding Test
-
Wales rookie Wainwright speaks of emotional celebrations after South Africa win
- The unseen eight Wales players yet to feature in South Africa and their prospects of playing in final Test
- South Africa v Wales winners and losers as Alun Wyn Jones gets justice and Springboks coach eats his words
