Wales warning to Boks from Holah

Mar 20 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

MARTY HOLAH has tipped Wales to give world champions South Africa a run for their money this summer.

And the former New Zealand All Blacks star insisted Wales’ Six Nations Grand Slam is not down solely to the arrival of Warren Gatland as coach.

Thirty-six times capped flanker Holah, who completed an almost one-man demolition job of the British Lions for New Zealand Maori in Hamilton three years ago, reckons Wales were already ripe for a major improvement.

Wales had won just six of their previous 25 Tests before Gatland, who was Holah’s coach at Kiwi province Waikato before the pair sought employment in Europe, was parachuted in following the World Cup flop.

The former Ireland and London Wasps boss, along with sidekick Shaun Edwards, proceeded to transform Wales from chumps to champs virtually overnight.

Their quick fix caught Ospreys openside star Holah, along with most of the Welsh nation, unawares.

“I guess I am a little bit surprised they have come up with immediate success,” explained the 31-year-old.

“Probably in terms of Warren, whoever was put in charge of the environment was going to help them out immensely.

“That’s what we have seen in the last couple of months from the Welsh guys, rather than to any great coaching strategy and technique.

“It’s just the freshness was the change the guys needed. I don’t think the guys have done anything different to what they normally do here at the Ospreys.

“I can only compare it to New Zealand. The standard in terms of players’ ability is definitely here.

“The Welsh guys are certainly very focused to work very hard to get where they have.

“Where maybe it differs a bit is the tier down and those below that. There seems to be more of a drop-off in ability here.”

Holah, who will wear the No 7 jersey for the Ospreys against Saracens at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday in their Anglo-Welsh EDF Cup semi-final, reckons Wales’ Euro clean sweep should send Gatland’s charges to South Africa for two summer Tests in good heart.

Wales have never beaten the Springboks south of the equator – their only victory was in Cardiff nine years ago – but the articulate Holah, who starred in the 55-3 hammering of the then Steve Hansen-coached Welsh in his home city of Hamilton in 2003, didn’t rule out history being made in Bloemfontein or Pretoria next June.

“Definitely,” he said, before adding, “I guess Wales have proved themselves to be the premier team here in Europe.”

South Africa lifted the World Cup after beating England in a dour final in Paris last October, but have a new coach in Peter de Villiers and could be without Europe-based stars such as Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha.

Their clashes with Wales have already been billed battles of the hemispheres and Holah seemed as excited as Welsh fans in seeing how his Ospreys pals will fare.

“It’s going to be great to see that match-up,” he smiled.

Holah agreed with Gatland’s comments that Wales will become a better team over the next year or two.

“Warren probably sees the standard of the guys and where they are at the moment. He can probably change the way they play and the pattern, but he can also see the potential here.

“Rather than being critical of them, he is pointing out there is room for improvement.”

Holah, who appeared for New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium in 2002 and 2003, is expected to be up against one of the unsung greats of world rugby on Saturday in the EDF, a certain Richard Hill.

Although it was Lawrence Dallaglio and Martin Johnson who had the plaudits in the England World Cup-winning pack of 2003 and the triumphant British Lions in 1997 in South Africa, quiet man Hill was the grafter neither side could have done without.

Knee reconstructions have prompted him to announce his retirement at the end of the season, but the back rower wants to go out with a bang.

Holah said, “I feel sorry for him a little bit. His mind is still willing but the body is struggling a little bit. But he will be out to have a big game against us.”