No complacency for Springboks against Wales, vows Kolisi

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi vowed that 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 to be the clear favourites over what seems to be a desperately underpowered and inexperienced Welsh team.

"We prepare for each game the same and we treat every opposition team the same, and honestly, we don't have a good record against Wales in Cardiff," Kolisi said on Friday.

"We cannot be arrogant. We all saw how well they played last weekend, and I think only later in the game, New Zealand pulled away (to win 52-26). So, we're going to have to start with intensity and play within our standards."

Wales beat the Boks six times in 10 games between 2014-22, but times have radically 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).

'THEY'VE BUILT WELL'

Despite also missing the likes of newly-crowned World Rugby player of the year Malcolm Marx and star winger Cheslin Kolbe, the Springboks' strength in depth means that they will put out a formidable and experienced team.

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-Wales coach Warren Gatland blooding players with little international experience.

"We've been in their position before," the flanker said.

"In 2015, all the guys retired at the same time, and then we went through the 2016 and 2017 seasons before coach Rassie (Erasmus), coach (Mzwandile) Stick, and many of the other coaches came into the mix, which is when we started changing things.

"Every team goes through such seasons. What's been so good with our team is that we've been chopping and changing, but while wanting to win.

"We know the Welsh will come for us this weekend, so we are looking forward to the game, and we'll give it our all."