Wales is staring down the barrel of a potential record defeat as South Africa's director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, has named a formidable team for their controversial Cardiff clash this Saturday. The spectre of 1998 looms large, a match where a Springboks side featuring a try-scoring Erasmus on the blindside flank inflicted a 96-13 humiliation that remains Wales' heaviest loss.
A Tale of Two Squads
Both teams are significantly weakened for this match, which falls outside of World Rugby's official international window, leaving them without 13 players each. However, the contrast in depth is stark. Erasmus can still call upon a matchday squad boasting a colossal 899 Test caps. In stark contrast, the Welsh squad managed by Steve Tandy has just 306 caps to its name.
Seven of the Springboks' starting fifteen were part of the team that recently defeated Ireland in Dublin, underscoring the quality at Erasmus's disposal. Despite the overwhelming favouritism, the South African coach is taking nothing for granted.
Erasmus's Cautious Warning
Reflecting on the 1998 game, Erasmus was quick to dismiss any notion of a repeat. "I don't think it's going to be anything like that," he stated. "I think it's going to be a grind." He pointed to history as a lesson, recalling that the following year, Wales beat South Africa. He praised the Welsh character, saying, "Whatever's wrong off the field with Wales – and I don't know what it is – they certainly have guts and willpower. They will come right."
Erasmus, who has built a squad that has won the last two World Cups and sits clearly as the world's number one team, also identified a potential area for Welsh targeting: his replacement front row. Yet, when discussing the power on his bench, including the 140-cap lock Eben Etzebeth, the sheer scale of the challenge facing Wales became apparent. Erasmus has named seven mammoth forwards among his substitutes, a daunting prospect for a Welsh side lacking power.
A Daunting David vs Goliath Task
With the Springboks bidding for an historic third consecutive World Cup in 2027, ending the year well is a key motivation. But Erasmus is wary of the Welsh psyche. "They've smashed us many times when we didn't expect it," he cautioned. "We're obviously trying to end the year well. I don't think we'll underestimate them."
The stage is set for a monumental clash at the Principality Stadium. On paper, it is a classic David versus Goliath battle. Wales will need to summon every ounce of the guts and willpower Erasmus credited them with to prevent another dark day in their rugby history.
