A Springbok side containing as many as four starting debutants will be tasked with downing Wales and securing maximum Nations Championship points in the third round at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday.
To Win
SA | Draw | Wales
Handicap
SA | Wales
Match context
The Boks have started the year as strongly as they finished the last one, taking all 10-log points on offer from their opening clashes with England and Scotland to justify their status as competition favourites and set themselves up superbly for the impending Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.
This week’s challenge comes in the form of Wales, and Rassie Erasmus and his coaches have opted for another somewhat experimental team to get the job done what with so many senior statesmen unavailable for selection (Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Lood de Jager and Sous Mostert are all sidelined until at least the away Test in Argentina next month).
Debuting in Durban will be Hollywoodbets Sharks duo Vusi Moyo (flyhalf) and Jaco Williams (right wing), while Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden and Bordeaux tighthead Carlü Sadie also get the nod in another highly exciting matchday 23 that features a five-three bench split.
Regulars Gerhard Steenekamp and Malcolm Marx pack down alongside Sadie in the front row, with Cobus Wiese given a second consecutive run in the engine room.
An unchanged loose trio of captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers and the other Wiese brother, Jasper, lends the side much-needed continuity, as does the midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel who, along with a returning Cobus Reinach, will be expected to shepherd 20-year-old Moyo at the Shark Tank.
There is more experience in the back three in the forms of Kurt-Lee Arendse and Aphelele Fassi, who will likewise be expected to mentor young Williams, while the most eye-catching sub selections include Andre-Hugo Venter, who will be looking to add to the solitary Test cap he won against Portugal two years ago, and Herschel Jantjies, who last featured way back in 2023.
Can an improving Welsh team which followed up their first round 39-24 defeat of Fiji in Cardiff with last week’s 21-35 defeat to Argentina in San Juan spring some surprises on the east coast?
Players to watch
Vusi Moyo (Springboks)
It’s been quite a few months for Moyo, who only made his senior franchise debut for the Hollywoodbets Sharks in May and is suddenly in line to become a fully-fledged Springbok. The 2025 Junior World Championship-winner will be the team’s fourth different flyhalf this year as Erasmus continues to strengthen the Boks’ depth in the quarterback role, with Sharks boss JP Pietersen certain to be among those keeping a close eye on his performance.
Coming up against Wales, at his home ground, with a plethora of experience all around him (especially in the form of halfback partner Reinach), Erasmus has given Moyo all he needs to absolutely flourish on Test debut, and it’ll be hugely exciting to see what he can produce on matchday.
Joe Hawkins (Wales)
Tipped to achieve big things by some in Welsh rugby circles, it’s perhaps understandable that the 24-year-old midfielder hasn’t yet reached the heights some predicted of him in the national red shirt, but his performance against the de Allende-Kriel combo will say a lot about the character of the Scarlets man.
Hawkins has started at inside centre in both of Wales’ opening Nations Championship games as coach Steve Tandy looks to build continuity in his side, and if he can execute his basics and keep the explosive Boks backs reasonably quiet, he would have done his bit here.
Tactical overview
Although much has changed since the sides last met in November, the memory of the Boks’ 73-0 hammering will still be fresh in the minds of Dragons players. Wales have been showing signs of progress under Tandy since then, especially in their Six Nations win over Italy at the Principality Stadium. Although the challenge for them this week may be daunting, they shouldn’t abandon the structures that have served them well in the opening two weekends of the competition.
From a Bok perspective, the most important thing will be for the players to get through the game relatively unscathed and for the four newbies to execute their roles within the team. There’s little to suggest Wales will pose a genuine threat, and it may be the case that we see some more experimental plays from the hosts with an eye on the All Blacks.
Prediction
The Bokke to clear the handicap with ease in Durban.
