Nick Mallett says it would be a ‘massive disappointment’ if the Springboks don’t wallop Wales by at least 15 points in their Test series opener at a packed Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
The first of three Tests in SA between the Boks and Wales kicks off with the visitors never having beaten the world champions in South Africa in 10 previous attempts.
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The tourists are not only fighting against history but they are coming into the match on the back of a disastrous Six Nations campaign, which ended in a historic loss to minnows Italy in Cardiff.
Writing in his regular column for Sport24, former Bok coach Nick Mallett is expecting the Springboks to put on a big score in Saturday’s Test match.
“To this weekend, I know the Springboks have been talking Wales up, but the facts in front of us suggest only one outcome,” wrote Mallett.
“In front of a packed house at Loftus, having played in front of no fans in the British & Irish Lions series, this is a massive game for South Africa to stamp their authority on this series.
“In the forwards, the Boks are stacked with World Cup and Lions series winners, and they will boast all the firepower that has made them the number one side in the world.
“It will be a massive disappointment if South Africa don’t win this by 15 points. I think they should set out to dominate, and then, hopefully, they can get two scores away and start unleashing a bit of the attacking potential we have seen from our sides in the URC, because I think we’ll need that going forward against better teams.
“It will be interesting to see if the Boks will be prepared to play that more enterprising rugby – counter-attacking, playing it quickly off lineouts, giving opportunities to the outside backs, etc – but I think that will only happen after their traditional strengths manufacture a comfortable lead.
“South Africa has never lost to Wales at home, and even though they have beaten us outside of this country reasonably regularly recently, I don’t think that entirely reflects where we are with our rugby presently and where they are with theirs.”
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#Watch – @mark_keohane expects the @Springboks to come out firing and smash Wales by at least 20 points at Loftus on Saturday.
What is your prediction? pic.twitter.com/IiJ78Wci66
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) June 30, 2022
Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images
