Wales v South Africa: Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says the world needs a strong Wales

Erasmus highlighted the occasions when Wales got the better of him during his international career as a player and coach.

“I played in the opening game at the Millennium Stadium in 1999 and they thrashed us,” Erasmus said.

“It was the first time we had lost to Wales and Mark Taylor shocked me.

“My first game as coach was against Wales in Washington in 2018 and we lost. Then in the next game here in Cardiff, we lost again.

“In the 2019 World Cup in the semi-finals, the difference was only three points.”

Former player Erasmus may have been part of the Springboks side that Wales defeated in 1999 in Cardiff, but he was also part of the team that inflicted a record 96-13 defeat to Wales the previous year.

Many pundits expect a heavy defeat for Wales this weekend given the gap between the two sides, but the Springboks coach does not expect a repeat of what happened 27 years ago in Pretoria.

“I can’t remember much about the 1998 game, but the next year they beat us, that’s how crazy it is,” Erasmus said.

“Wales have been a depleted team, a bit like a second team with a lot of injuries. I don’t think it will be like that this weekend, it will be difficult.

“What do these guys have to lose? Other than arming up and putting a marker on and saying ‘here we are’ against the Springboks.

“That’s what this Wales team will do, Steve Tandy [Wales head coach] It seems to bring the structures together. We will not underestimate Wales.”