No complacency for Springboks against Wales, vows Kolisi

CARDIFF - South Africa captain Siya Kolisi vowed there would be no complacency against a depleted Wales when the two teams clash in Cardiff on Saturday.

Both sides have been hit by a raft of players leaving the national squad to rejoin their clubs as the fixture falls outside of the international Test window.

Such is the Springbok's strength in depth, however, that Rassie Erasmus's side look the clear favourites over what seems to be a desperately underpowered and inexperienced Welsh team.

"We prepare for every opponent in exactly the same way, and honestly, we don't have a great record against Wales away. We know how tough they are," Kolisi said.

"We cannot be arrogant. If we don't prepare properly, we know what happens. We have to start with intensity, stay within our standards, and give everything."

Wales beat the Boks six times in 10 games between 2014-22, but times have changed since then.

Steve Tandy's team have won just two of their last 22 Test matches, both times against Japan, first away in July and then in Cardiff earlier this month.

And the Springboks have won the last four matches against Wales, topping 40 points in the last three clashes.

"It's an opportunity to play for your country against the best team in the world," Wales captain Dewi Lake said, with 13 England and France-based players absent from the squad.

"A chance to come to the stadium and pull the jersey on, I'm never not going to be happy about that. Everyone in the squad feels the same."

South Africa have averaged an ominous 37 points and five tries per game in Autumn Nations Series wins over Japan (61-7), France (32-17), Italy (32-14) and Ireland (24-13).

Despite also missing the likes of newly-crowned World Rugby player of the year Malcolm Marx and star winger Cheslin Kolbe, Erasmus has used 49 players this year and his eight-man bench has won more caps (374) than the entire Welsh match-day 23 (306).

"They've built well over the last 10 years to get that depth back," acknowledged Lake.

"They've got incredible depth, but we're excited for the challenge."

Kolisi said he had some sympathy for Wales and the cyclical nature of the sport, with a host of senior players retiring after the 2023 Rugby World Cup that left then-Welsh coach Warren Gatland blooding players with little international experience.

"We've been in this position before," the flanker said. "In 2015 a lot of senior guys retired at once - then 2016 and 2017 were really tough. That's what happens when you don't change your team.

"What's been good for us is that we've chopped and changed while still wanting to win. The coach never says, 'It's okay if we lose'. We want to win and build squad depth."