{"id":598543,"date":"2025-11-28T04:45:30","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T04:45:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/598543\/"},"modified":"2025-11-28T04:45:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T04:45:30","slug":"south-africa-coach-rassie-erasmus-sends-warning-to-his-side-ahead-of-david-vs-goliath-clash-against-wales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/598543\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus sends warning to his side ahead of David vs Goliath clash against Wales"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ALEX BYWATER, RUGBY WRITER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 13:00 EST, 27 November 2025 | Updated: 13:00 EST, 27 November 2025 <\/p>\n

Rassie Erasmus<\/a> started on the blindside flank and scored one of South Africa\u2019s 15 tries when the Springboks inflicted a 96-13 humiliation on Wales in 1998.<\/p>\n

It remains Wales\u2019 record defeat. But that could be in danger on Saturday after Erasmus, now his country\u2019s head coach, named a formidable team to take on Steve Tandy\u2019s men.<\/p>\n

Both teams are without 13 players for the controversial Cardiff<\/a> clash as it takes place outside of World Rugby\u2019s designated autumn international window. But South Africa\u2019s impressive strength in depth means Erasmus can still field an imposing squad.<\/p>\n

Seven of his starting 15 were in the team which beat Ireland in Dublin.<\/p>\n

Erasmus can call on 899 caps in his matchday squad. Wales, meanwhile, have just 306.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was a depleted Wales side with a lot of injuries,\u2019 Erasmus said, looking back on that 1998 game.<\/p>\n

\"Rassie <\/p>\n

Rassie Erasmus has warned his South Africa side about complacency ahead of their clash with Wales in Cardiff<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The South African behemoths are heavy favourites and inflicted Wales’ record defeat of 96-13 in 1998<\/p>\n

\u2018I don\u2019t think it\u2019s going to be anything like that. I think it’s going to be a grind.<\/p>\n

\u2018I played in that (1998) game but then the next year we lost to Wales. That’s how quickly it changed. Whatever’s wrong off the field with Wales \u2013 and I don’t know what it is \u2013 they certainty have guts and willpower. They will come right.<\/p>\n

\u2018We need a strong Welsh team. They have the tradition of loving to play the game.\u2019<\/p>\n

Erasmus has built a fine squad \u2013 one that has already won the last two World Cups and is well clear as the No 1 side on the planet right now. In doing so, he has also forged a reputation as an innovative coach.<\/p>\n

When asked by\u00a0Daily Mail Sport\u00a0what he would do to target South Africa if he was hypothetically coaching against his own team, Erasmus pointed out the inexperience of his replacement front row forwards and said he expected Wales to target them.<\/p>\n

But when listing the rest of his bench, Erasmus couldn\u2019t sugarcoat the task facing Wales when he came to the 140-cap lock Eben Etzebeth. Even with absentees in both camps, this is a David against Goliath clash.<\/p>\n

Erasmus has named seven mammoth forwards on his bench. Wales lack power, so their challenge is daunting to say the least.<\/p>\n

\u2018We know the Welsh psyche. They’ve smashed us many times when we didn’t expect it,\u2019 said Erasmus, whose team is bidding for what would be an historic third straight global showpiece in Australia in 2027.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re obviously trying to end the year well. I don’t think we’ll underestimate them.\u2019<\/p>\n

South Africa:\u00a0Willemse; Hooker, De Allende, Esterhuizen, Moodie; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Van der Berg; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Louw, Kleyn, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Mostert, Wiese<\/p>\n

Replacements:\u00a0Mbonambi, Porthen, Ntlabakanye, Etzebeth, Van Staden, Dixon, Smith, Reinach<\/p>\n

Wales Rugby<\/a>South Africa Rugby<\/a><\/p>\n

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