The Springboks will be without key players for Saturday’s Test in Cardiff.
Springbok boss Rassie Erasmus and Wales coach Steve Tandy will be without key players for Saturday’s Test in Cardiff.
The final match of the Springboks’ end-of-year tour takes place outside World Rugby’s Test window, and both teams are set to feel the impact.
According to reports, Erasmus may lose several Europe-based players, with Thomas du Toit (Bath), Boan Venter (Edinburgh) and RG Snyman (Leinster) all potentially unavailable as their clubs are not obliged to release them. Japan-based stars such as Manie Libbok could also be recalled before the weekend.
The Boks have already been hit by Kurt-Lee Arendse’s concussion, which forced the wing home after the Italy Test, while Erasmus must still decide whether to summon Edwill van der Merwe, who returned to South Africa for the birth of his child.
The world champions will, however, have full access to local players after SA Rugby and the URC franchises agreed on compensation for this additional 2025 fixture – the team’s 15th of a long season. Rapport claims the Bulls, Lions, Stormers and Sharks will each receive roughly R285,000 per Springbok selected.
Those not chosen for Cardiff will return early to their franchises as preparations ramp up for the resumption of the URC.
Wales have a similar headache, with 10 members of their 23-man squad that faced the All Blacks plying their trade in the English Premiership or French Top 14.
Wales will also be without experienced wing Josh Adams, suspended for three weeks after his red card against Japan.
Erasmus was relieved and satisfied after the Boks finally snapped a 13-year drought at the Aviva Stadium with a bruising 24-13 win on Saturday – their fourth straight victory on the end-of-year tour.
But the Bok boss, captain Siya Kolisi and World Rugby Player of the Year Malcolm Marx all played down the significance of the result, praising Ireland’s fightback and stressing that South Africa were far from perfect.
