Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has never beaten Wales counterpart Warren Gatland.
In two attempts as Springbok coach, Erasmus failed to slay the Dragons ahead of Sunday’s World Cup semifinal showdown in Yokohama.
The first of those matches was Erasmus’s first international in charge of the team at the start of 2018, when a second-string Bok side lost 22-20 in the US.
They then ended the year with a 20-11 defeat to the Welsh in Cardiff, making it Gatland 2 Erasmus 0.
But once again, it wasn’t the Springboks’ best side that played in that match, with their overseas stars not being available.
ADVANTAGE: Boss Gatland. Picture: Aaron Favila/AP.
Erasmus says of the duel: “I’ve never coached Wales with [my] first-choice [team] available.
“It will make for a really great match-up.
“They are a team with a lot of X-factor and the one thing that struck me about them is that they created a squad where they took a B side to Argentina and gave them a whitewash.
“They created depth in every position and it’s a big challenge for us.”
To overcome the challenge, the Boks have to be mentally ready to keep their concentration for the full 80 minutes according to the coach.
TOUGH BAKKIES: The Wales rugby team will be a tough challenge for the Bokke. Picture: Aaron Favila/AP.
He adds: “We do have the pack and backline players to go all the way.
“[But] if you have four or five minutes when you drop concentration [you are in trouble].
“We have to prepare to concentrate for an 80-minute game of rugby.”
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Meanwhile, influential Wales backrower Josh Navidi has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup after tearing his hamstring during their quarterfinal victory over France.