One good result could be all Wales need to turn their fortunes around, according to Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stick.
Despite being overwhelming favourites for Saturday’s Nations Championship Round Three Test, Stick warned against underestimating the Welsh. He believes the struggling rugby nation is closer to a revival than recent results suggest.
The last time the two sides met, the Springboks delivered a record 73-0 victory over Wales in Cardiff in November.
However, between November 2018 and November 2019, Wales enjoyed a four-match winning streak over South Africa.
The Welsh also claimed their only victory on South African soil with a 13-12 triumph in Bloemfontein in July 2022 – a result that saw Rassie Erasmus lose three of his first four encounters against the Dragons as head coach.
The Welsh subsequently fell into a steep decline – enduring a miserable 18-match losing streak – while the Boks secured back-to-back World Cup titles and are currently at summit of World Rugby rankings.
“I know people sometimes focus on the results. But we know that team [Wales] very well, they are a world-class team.” said Stick.
“If you don’t prepare well to play against them, you’re going to be on the wrong side.
“In my experience, in the early days when I started to coach, we used to struggle. We used to lose against Wales a lot.
“So, we understand that on a good day, if you’re not at your best, they will punish you.”
Stick added: “When it comes to this game, with 100% respect, if we had to prepare against Ireland or New Zealand, it’s the same way we would have prepared for this game against Wales.”
Stick revealed that South Africa’s respect for Wales extends beyond the field, saying the Welsh are in a similar position to where the Springboks found themselves during their own rebuilding years.
“We’ve got a good working relationship with their management. As a coaching staff, we braai with them, invited them over to our hotel.
“We always get along with their management. When they come and visit South Africa, they are one of the teams that you can mingle with and exchange ideas.
“Relationship-wise, when it comes to work, we get along very well with them. And then when it comes to them as a team, I understand they’re not far from turning things around.
“I’ve been there in the past, 2016, 2017, 2018, when there was transition also in our system, we had challenges. In 2018, we only had a 50% winning ratio.
“And even now, they look at us and they see this world-class team. But we’ve also been through tough times. So I think Wales are also in that space in the sense that you can’t ask for a better team to play against than the Springboks, the number one team in the world.
“So I know for them, if they perform well against us, the people back there in Wales will probably give them a chance.
“That’s exactly what we did in 2018. Our focus that year was just to beat New Zealand in New Zealand. Then things turned around and the belief was there.
“I think they’re also in that space in the sense that probably one or two good results might change everything for them.”
Following this weekend’s encounter, the Springboks will enjoy a short break before taking on Argentina, followed by the four-match Greatest Rivalry Series against the All Blacks.
Watch Hemispheres collide as North faces South in the brand new Nations Championship. Live matches, replays and highlights free on RugbyPass TV here
