The Springboks have been dealt a blow with the news that their star winger, the electric Cheslin Kolbe, has been ruled out after failing to overcome an ankle injury he has suffered throughout his team’s last few matches.
Sbu Nkosi has been drafted into the starting line-up to replace Kolbe and the 23-year-old has scored eight tries in his 10 Test appearances.
“It is a big blow. Everybody knows the quality of player Cheslin is and the contribution he has made, but his ankle definitely had an influence on his performance in the last game,” said Erasmus. “Cheslin’s top-end speed and agility is probably one of the best in world rugby – I think he is up there with Shane Williams and Damian McKenzie. That is definitely something we will miss.
“We just feel a 70 per cent Cheslin isn’t better than a 100 per cent S’bu. We have full confidence in S’bu, especially with the way he has been playing. He certainly deserves his chance and power-wise he brings something totally different to the party.”
South Africa have lost their last four meetings with Wales. Kolbe aside, their team for the 2019 World Cup semi-final clash is their strongest available.
Erasmus has made great strides with his side in the last two years and his men finished as runners-up to New Zealand in their pool in Japan.
They were defeated by the All Blacks in their first game of the tournament before going on to down Italy, Canada and Namibia.
As he did against hosts Japan in the quarter-final, Erasmus has continued with his tactic of naming six forwards and two backs on the replacements bench.
The former Munster head coach was full of compliments for Wales boss Warren Gatland.
“Warren is an absolute legend of the game. You very seldom see him in a mouth fight and mudslinging before Test matches,” Erasmus said.
“I’ve never been there having to reply to something he says and he doesn’t bite at you to create unnecessary nonsense before a Test match. I’ve got a lot of respect for him as a person.
“His results on the field with the Welsh team and the British & Irish Lions speak for themselves.”
South Africa have one of the most potent back-row combinations in world rugby in captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and hulking No 8 Duane Vermeulen.
Locks Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager are hugely experienced, while loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira – known as ‘Beast’ – is one of the most recognisable faces in world rugby. Behind the scrum Kolbe might be absent, but in half-backs Faf de Klerk and Handre Pollard, Erasmus has two top game controllers at his fingertips.
Sale’s De Klerk is small in stature, but he is a huge force around the field.
South Africa have one of the form centre pairings of the World Cup in Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am with Makazole Mapimpi on the other wing to Nkosi and Willie le Roux at full-back.
“We expect and want to go all the way and try to win the World Cup. We know it’s a tough challenge and Wales, England and New Zealand want to do it too,” said Erasmus.
“They are all ranked higher than us and have great coaches and players, but we feel we’ve got as good a chance as those other teams. We hope more Japanese fans and players will support us.
“I don’t know who the favourites are. We believe we can beat Wales and they will fully believe they can beat us. That makes for an entertaining game come Sunday.”
South Africa team to face Wales: Willie le Roux; Sbu Nkosi, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi; Handré Pollard, Faf de Klerk; Tendai Mtawarira, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Siya Kolisi (captain), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Franco Mostert, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn
