Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus believes that even without their World Cup star Cheslin Kolbe, they have what it takes to down the Six Nations champions on Sunday.
The Rugby Championship champs will take the field in the “battle of the hemispheres” without Kolbe, who was ruled out because of an ankle injury.
But in Sbu Nkosi, who comes in on the right wing, Erasmus believes he is an able replacement to combat the threat posed by Wales.
In fact, he says a 100 percent Nkosi is better than a 70 percent Kolbe.
The coach explains: “If you look purely at [Kolbe’s] performance in the game [against Japan], he had an ankle injury [and that impacted on his game].
“And we just feel a 70 percent Cheslin [Kolbe] is not better than 100 percent Sbu [Nkosi] and we’ve got full confidence in Sbu and especially the way he’s been playing.”
READY: Six Nations winners Wales. Picture: Robert Perry/EPA.
The change is the only one to the Bok side that beat Japan 26-3, with Erasmus again opting for a six-two split on the bench.
Of this decision, he adds: “We see this as having a fresh tight five for 80 minutes on the field which will help us on attack on defence.
OUT: The Springboks will be without their star backline player, Cheslin Kolbe. Picture: Matthew Childs/Reuters.
“Defence will be a challenge against a big, experienced backline.
“They [Wales] know how to exploit tired, big forwards [towards the end of a match] and we just feel it helps our defence and when we have the ball on attack.”
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Of opposing coach Warren Gatland, Erasmus says: “He is a legend of the game in many respects. Seldom do you see him getting involved in a verbal war before Test matches.
“He is always respectful and doesn’t bite at you to create unnecessary nonsense before a game.” Gatland will name his Wales team today.