South Africa may be without 25 players for their 14th and final match of the year against Wales on Saturday but 11 of the side that will feature in Cardiff started the victory over New Zealand last month.
South Africa are entering the unknown at the Millennium Stadium – though not the ground, where they provided the first opposition in 1999, in what remains their only defeat to Wales. Instead it will be the first time they have played a fourth Test on a European tour, something that will leave the South African union £750,000 better off, and they have had testing encounters against Ireland, England and Italy. Will there be any spring remaining in the Boks?
“We will see what is left in the tank,” said the South Africa coach, Heyneke Meyer. “It is a testament to our strength in depth that we can put out such a great side and we see this as a big opportunity for a number of guys who are on the edge of World Cup selection. Our aim is to have three top guys in each position to choose from.”
Seven of the pack started the 27-25 victory over the All Blacks in Johannesburg – the tighthead prop Coenie Oosthuizen is the exception – with Meyer saying that experience would be needed against opponents he rates highly. Wales played two Tests in South Africa in the summer, losing the second in the final minutes having led by 17 points.
“Wales were probably the better side that day and the games against them were two of our toughest all year, including the Rugby Championship,” said Meyer. “In a sense I feel for them. They have had a great season, but they have lost at the end of games to us, Australia and New Zealand. I believe they are quality but for some reason, I don’t know why, they just lose it in the last 10 minutes
“That does not make you a bad side and I respect them. They have a strong pack, a defence up there with the best, a very good tactical game and no weak areas. They have one of the best back lines around and they are dangerous. I believe Wales will be strong in the World Cup and they are a difficult side to play against.”
South Africa lost to Ireland at the start of their tour and Meyer believes that the gap between the northern and southern hemispheres, which existed at the start of the professional era, has shrivelled in size in the past 19 years.
“The days have gone when certain teams could outmuscle other ones,” he said. “Professionalism means there is no difference now between players in terms of weight or technique. They travel the world and so do coaches. The coaching is the same, so is the conditioning and nutritional approach and fitness levels. It is always going to be a 50-50 when you play against a top side.
“New Zealand are the No1 in the world but they could have lost in Ireland a year ago and it shows you the gap is very small. Our game against England could have gone either way and it was the same with New Zealand at Twickenham the week before. We struggled against Italy last week and England did against Samoa, teams whose players are with top clubs.
“It comes down to on the day because all the top sides are capable of beating each other. You have to be on the top of your game: you cannot win by motivation any more. You have to be tactically astute and one mistake is the difference between winning and losing.”
South Africa team to play Wales
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Jan Serfontein, 12 Jean de Villiers (captain), 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Francois Hougaard, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Damian de Allende