Rees ready to take his chance

Bench warmer: Rees is ready to take his chance in South Africa

With Huw Bennett forced out of Wales' tour to South Africa fellow hooker Matthew Rees has a chance to show Head Coach Warren Gatland what he can do.

Having spent three Six Nations games on the bench Rees is looking to stake his claim for a regular starting berth when Wales go on tour to South Africa at the end of the month.

Bennett, who injured himself in Shane Williams' testimonial game on Saturday, will not be fit to tour, and whilst Rees feels for his fellow hooker he knows this is a big chance to impress Gatland.

"It's disappointing for Huw," Rees told The Western Mail.

"He's been playing well for Wales and the Ospreys, but unfortunately he had the incident in Shane's testimonial.

"It was just one of those accidents that can happen on the field. I think it was Ryan Jones who landed on him.

"I'm sure Huw will bounce back from it and be back next season."

Rees, who is known as 'Smiler' to his team-mates, is now targeting two starts in South Africa, having missed out against France in the Grand Slam decider in March.

"Getting the start is important for me and it's just a matter of continuing from the way I played in the Six Nations," he said.

"I think things went well for me there. I was pleased with my performances and it's a matter of keeping on building on that really."

Rees got on the field for all five games during the Six Nations, making an impact on each occasion, but was only actually selected to start one game - against Italy.

However, fate intervened when he was drafted in at the 11th hour for the Triple Crown clash with Ireland after Bennett was forced to withdraw through illness.

He responded with an excellent display as he hit his targets in the line-out and showed up well in the loose in a famous 16-12 win at Croke Park.

"I think that was one of my best performances for Wales," said the 27-year-old.

"I was called up to start on the day and it was a superb team performance. It was pleasing from my point of view and a great success for myself personally through the Six Nations."

Rees says it's vital that Warren Gatland's Wales now build on their Grand Slam triumph, starting with the two-Test tour of South Africa.

"The challenge for us is to keep on playing the way we are," he said.

"We are playing really well. The aim is to go out to South Africa and make a statement and not just live on what happened in the Six Nations.

"I think we need to be a side that maintains a top level all the time, rather than having ups and downs.

"We want to be consistent. That's the way we've got to look forward to the next World Cup.

"There's a lot to build on and it's important we keep moving in the right direction."

"Taking on the world champions in their own backyard is something to look forward to and it's going to be a great challenge for us, especially off the back of the Six Nations which went really well for us.

"We weren't sure what squad they were going to pick and what players they were going to bring in from Europe.

"But they have selected a really strong squad - just about the strongest they could have."

Wales will be missing several key players, although Rees is looking on the bright side with other places now getting a chance to prove their worth.

"We are missing a few people, but it's a good opportunity for other players to come in and show what they can do," he added.

"There's no better place to do that than playing the world champions in their own backyard. It doesn't get any bigger than that really.

"You know what's coming your way out there.

"They've got a huge pack and it's going to be physical up front. We know that and that is our challenge. We've got to match them and, even more, do better than them.

"It's something we've got to get into our heads now, so that when we do turn up we'll be ready for it.

"South Africa don't lose many games on their own soil. They are the world champions, but we are flying high at the moment and we've got to test ourselves against the best.

"I definitely think we've got a realistic chance of winning. If we play to the best of our ability, we can beat anyone on our day.

"It's just a matter of getting everything right and producing the goods on the day."

Rees will be packing down against Springboks skipper John Smit, who has been released to play in the series by his French club Clermont Auvergne.

"I played against him for the Scarlets in this season's Heineken Cup," he said.

"He's a physical man, a big guy and a great leader.

"He has been outstanding for South Africa over the years and I'm sure he will be a big factor for them in the two Tests out there.

"He's definitely one of the biggest hookers I've played against, along with Steve Thompson.

"He's been playing loosehead for Clermont, as well as hooker, and for a player to do that really takes some doing."