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Rassie Erasmus started on the blindside flank and scored one of South Africa’s 15 tries when the Springboks inflicted a 96-13 humiliation on Wales in 1998.
It remains Wales’ record defeat. But that could be in danger on Saturday after Erasmus, now his country’s head coach, named a formidable team to take on Steve Tandy’s men.
Both teams are without 13 players for the controversial Cardiff clash as it takes place outside of World Rugby’s designated autumn international window. But South Africa’s impressive strength in depth means Erasmus can still field an imposing squad.
Seven of his starting 15 were in the team which beat Ireland in Dublin.
Erasmus can call on 899 caps in his matchday squad. Wales, meanwhile, have just 306.
‘It was a depleted Wales side with a lot of injuries,’ Erasmus said, looking back on that 1998 game.
Rassie Erasmus has warned his South Africa side about complacency ahead of their clash with Wales in Cardiff
The South African behemoths are heavy favourites and inflicted Wales' record defeat of 96-13 in 1998
‘I don’t think it’s going to be anything like that. I think it's going to be a grind.
‘I played in that (1998) game but then the next year we lost to Wales. That's how quickly it changed. Whatever's wrong off the field with Wales – and I don't know what it is – they certainty have guts and willpower. They will come right.
‘We need a strong Welsh team. They have the tradition of loving to play the game.’
Erasmus has built a fine squad – one that has already won the last two World Cups and is well clear as the No 1 side on the planet right now. In doing so, he has also forged a reputation as an innovative coach.
When asked by Daily Mail Sport what he would do to target South Africa if he was hypothetically coaching against his own team, Erasmus pointed out the inexperience of his replacement front row forwards and said he expected Wales to target them.
But when listing the rest of his bench, Erasmus couldn’t sugarcoat the task facing Wales when he came to the 140-cap lock Eben Etzebeth. Even with absentees in both camps, this is a David against Goliath clash.
Erasmus has named seven mammoth forwards on his bench. Wales lack power, so their challenge is daunting to say the least.
‘We know the Welsh psyche. They've smashed us many times when we didn't expect it,’ said Erasmus, whose team is bidding for what would be an historic third straight global showpiece in Australia in 2027.
‘We’re obviously trying to end the year well. I don't think we'll underestimate them.’
South Africa: Willemse; Hooker, De Allende, Esterhuizen, Moodie; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Van der Berg; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Louw, Kleyn, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Mostert, Wiese
Replacements: Mbonambi, Porthen, Ntlabakanye, Etzebeth, Van Staden, Dixon, Smith, Reinach
