VIDEO: How Welsh Dragons hope to avoid more Springbok pain and debasement
South Africa will be the shortest-priced favourites when they host Wales in Round Three of the Nations Championship in Durban on Saturday.
Back-to-back World Cup champions South Africa are on a 10-match winning streak, while Wales is looking to rebound from a 21-35 loss to Argentina.
The Springboks head into the Kings Park clash sitting comfortably at No.1 in the world rankings, while Wales hover outside the top 10 at No. 11.
More importantly, the Boks inflicted a record 73-0 defeat on Wales in Cardiff back in November.
Wales forwards coach Danny Wilson said there were a whole lot of ‘contributing factors’ that resulted in the horror show in Cardiff last year.
He added a caveat that it was a very “impressive performance” by the Springboks, something they could encounter again in Durban.
“We definitely want to, and need to, improve on that scoreline,” he said of the 0-73 horror show, adding: “We are also aware of the challenge we have ahead of us.
“We also have to raise our game from this past week [against Argentina].”
(WATCH as Wales forwards coach Danny Wilson explains how they hope to avoid another ‘whitewash’ like last November’s humbling 0-73 loss to South Africa…..)
Wilson said they have taken some ‘steps forward’, having snapped a frustrating 15-game Six Nations championship drought in 2026 with a 31-17 victory against Italy in Cardiff, then followed wins over the Barbarians (33-31) in a non-cap international and Fiji (39-24).
That raised hopes of a revival.
However, last week’s 21-35 loss to Argentina has left the team ‘disappointed’ and determined to avoid another run like the 18-match international losing streak, stretching from the 2023 World Cup until July 2025.
“Although the result this past weekend wasn’t what we wanted, and there were some disappointing parts in it, there were also some positive aspects.
“We must recognise and ensure we build on those important aspects, as well as improve on the aspects we weren’t quite up to it.
“We will have to be on it this [coming] weekend against a side that can hurt you very, very quickly.”
Wilson believes there’s some ‘encouragement’ to take from the Scotland performance against the Boks at Loftus Versfeld.
South Africa raced into a 14-0 lead before the Scots drew level (14-all) by half-time. A three-try blitz in nine minutes again took the scoreboard margin away from the visitors (35-14), before Scotland closed the gap to just one score (35-28).
A late try restored the Boks’ comfortable advantage.
“Scotland’s performance was impressive,” the Welsh assistant coach said, adding: “They really tested the Springboks.”
However, the depth of the squad available to Bok coach Rassie Erasmus is a big forewarning for the visitors in Durban.
“The quality of their squad has been on display.
“They have made changes from England going into the Scotland game and from Scotland heading into our game.
“That is what we are growing at the moment, and we have given some players opportunities.
“We have seen a little bit of depth to build, with competition for places.
“Making our lives as coaches difficult to be able to select a team is where we need to be.
“We have the example set by South Africa that when we get to a World Cup, we feel that we have the depth we need.”
Historically, Wales has managed to upset the Springboks in the past, including a 13-12 win in Bloemfontein in 2022.
Wilson said that the result has come up repeatedly in team discussions this week.
“It was a ‘big’ win for Wales at a difficult venue.
“The confidence we can draw from those types of performances is on our minds as well.”
Having beaten South Africa in Bloemfontein four years ago, Wales have now conceded 241 points in their last five matches against the Springboks.
On average across those games, they’ve lost by a margin of 37 points.
Having once been competitive against South Africa – winning five out of six Tests between 2014 and 2018 – the two sides are now poles apart.
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