Rassie Erasmus has hailed Warren Gatland as “a great coach” and rugby man “through and through” ahead of what could be the New Zealander’s last game as Wales boss.
World champions South Africa are overwhelming favourites to inflict a 12th successive Test match defeat on Wales in Saturday’s autumn series clash in Cardiff.
Speculation continues to rage about Gatland’s future in the job, having overseen just six wins from 23 Tests since returning for a second stint as head coach.
It starkly contrasts to first time around when Wales were twice World Cup semi-finalists, won Six Nations titles and Grand Slams, in addition to briefly becoming the world’s top ranked team.
“I think it was in Twickenham where we last saw each other last summer,” Springboks head coach Erasmus said.
“Coaching can become lonely. It is cut-throat. Whenever someone is under the pump, you don’t wish anything bad on that person.
“I wouldn’t say I would love him to beat us, but I would love him to be successful.
“Although we have bumped heads in the past, he is a rugby man through and through. I have got a lot of respect for him and I hope he gets the respect from everyone he deserves.”
Erasmus has overseen two World Cup final triumphs during his stint in charge of the Springboks, but they experienced some difficult results prior to him taking over in 2018, including a 57-0 loss to New Zealand.
“We were a new coaching staff that came in. It is easy to start a new culture because it’s almost like a new start,” he added.
“Wales are in a totally different scenario. I know the record of losing 11 on the trot is obviously not great, and I take ourselves back, just before I took over, and we lost 57-0 in New Zealand.
“The next weekend we lost to the same team (in Cape Town) by two points. I just know Warren is a great coach and I know they’ve got great players.
“Sometimes you just turn it around because players believe in a coach, sometimes you just say a right word and the players say they are going to do it for the coach and the country.
“A lot can change in rugby with a change in confidence and mindset, and Australia is a perfect example of how things can change in the sport if one considers how well they are playing now compared to last year.
“They (Wales) are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose, so it would be careless of us to think that we just need to pitch up and the result will go in our favour.”
Erasmus has made seven changes from the team that beat England, including starts for the Hendrikse brothers Jaden and Jordan as half-backs.
The other five switches are up front, with hooker Johan Grobbelaar, prop Thomas du Toit, locks Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert and flanker Elrigh Louw all featuring.
A powerful bench includes six forwards, with Eben Etzebeth, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman being among them, in addition to uncapped flanker Cameron Hanekom.
Hanekom, whose grandmother is Welsh, had previously been linked to a possible Test career with Wales, but he said: “It never crossed my mind, honestly.
“It was more the media that speculated it. Since I was a young boy I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Springboks.”
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 19, 2024
South Africa team to play Wales
Forwards: 1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 2 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls), 3 Thomas du Toit (Bath), 4 Jean Kleyn (Munster), 5 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat), 6 Siya Kolisi (Captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), 7 Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), 8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks)
Backs: 9 Jaden Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 10 Jordan Hendrikse (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls), 12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), 13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), 15 Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), 17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls), 18 Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 19 Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), 20 RG Snyman (Leinster), 21 Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), 22 Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), 23 Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)