Former Springbok wing Stefan Terblanche has thrown his support behind new Wales head coach Steve Tandy, likening his deep understanding of the game to that of legendary South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus.1 The comments come just ahead of the final Test of the year between Wales and South Africa this Saturday.
The Rassie Comparison
Terblanche, who played alongside Tandy at the Ospreys (2003-2007) and with Erasmus in the Springbok setup, highlighted their shared intense commitment to strategy.
- Shared Trait: “People will say to me, you’re mad, but he (Tandy) reminds me a lot about Rassie,” Terblanche told AFP.
- Deep Analysts: He recalled that both men were often “analyzing the game” even during social downtime, noting, “They thought about the game deeply… I think that’s what gave them the edge.”
Tandy took over the Welsh role earlier this year and, despite defeats to Argentina and New Zealand, led Wales to their first home Test win since 2023 against Japan in mid-November with a more attack-minded style.
Confidence in Wales’ Direction
Terblanche, who maintains contact with the 45-year-old Tandy, expressed strong faith in the new coach’s ability to turn the Welsh team around.
“I think there’s really a huge improvement. It’s not an overnight fix… I think we will all see the benefits for Welsh rugby having a coach like Steve in control.”
Erasmus’s Ongoing Master plan
In contrast to Wales’ rebuild, Erasmus’s Springboks are enjoying an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series following victories over Japan, France, Italy, and Ireland.
- World Cup Defense: While South Africa is in an excellent position to defend their title at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Terblanche noted that key icons like captain Siya Kolisi (who will be 36) and flyhalf Handré Pollard (who will be 33) are aging.
- Rassie’s Book: Terblanche believes Erasmus and his staff are already planning to manage their key players, emphasizing the importance of keeping Erasmus in charge: “He does things by Rassie’s book, and I think at the moment it’s working for South Africa.”
The Upcoming Test: Saturday, 29 November
Due to the match falling outside World Rugby’s official Test window, both nations will be fielding significantly changed starting XVs in Cardiff.
- Springbok Depth: Terblanche noted that South Africa can still field a team full of highly-capped, quality players.
- Wales’ Opportunity: For Wales, he sees the enforced rotation as a perfect chance for young and less-experienced players to prove themselves: “It’s a great opportunity for these young guys… just to say ‘Steve, take notice of me.’”
Match Details
| Team | Details |
| Date | Saturday, 29 November |
| Venue | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| Kick-off | 17:10 (SA time) |
| Referee | Luc Ramos (France) |
Wales XV: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Rhys Davies, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
