Rugby Union Rivals Dewi Lake and Malcolm Marx Set for Twickenham Showdown
Wales Captain Eager to Face South African Hooker
Emotions Running High in Previous Test Match
“Emotions were flying and you could feel the hostile crowd of 50,000 people at Loftus [Versfeld Stadium],” recalled Dewi Lake. “That’s the way I like to play the game, on the edge. That’s the way we as a group want to play.”
The 25-year-old Wales hooker and his South African counterpart, 29-year-old Malcolm Marx, are both returning to international rugby for the first time since the 2022 Rugby World Cup.
High-Stakes Matchup at Twickenham
“I haven’t faced off against him in a while,” said Lake. “I’m sure he’ll be champing at the bit to get back to international rugby. It will be exciting to go against him again because he is regarded as one of the best hookers in the world and that’s the type of competition we want.”
With key players potentially unavailable, Lake could be the experienced head in the Wales front row, supported by rookie Cardiff duo Evan Lloyd and Efan Daniel.
Embracing the Physical Challenge
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has highlighted Lake and lock Dafydd Jenkins as two young players who have embraced the challenges of international rugby. Lake relishes the physical battle, saying:
“That’s why I fell in love with the game. I was never very good at touch rugby or sevens! That physical and one-on-one battle with your opposite number is what I look forward to.”
Seeking to Change Perceptions
The inexperienced and experimental Wales side face a daunting task against the double world champion Springboks, who are heavy favorites. However, Lake is confident his team can change perceptions and install a winning mindset.
“It’s what we do going forward, how we change people’s perception of us and what we want to look like as a group,” he said. “It’s about installing winning habits and mindsets and believing in ourselves, so we can show we can do it and put those results together.”
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