Van den Berg warns depleted Wales will 'chase lost causes'

SPRINGBOK scrumhalf Morne van den Berg says South Africa cannot afford to underestimate Wales in Saturday's Test at the Principality Stadium, warning that a patched-together Welsh side will still bring the trademark fight, physicality and defiance that South African teams have come to expect in the north.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

Wales enter the Test under severe selection strain, missing 13 players who have returned to their franchises in England and France. But despite the gulf in depth, experience and recent form, the diminutive No 9 insists the Springboks' standards not Wales' weaknesses must drive their performance.

"We're in the process of building our game and each week has its own theme and own work-on, so the environment is great, the atmosphere is good, but it's all about building the game and getting better each week," he said.

Van den Berg has played enough URC rugby to know exactly what awaits in Cardiff, regardless of which names appear on Steve Tandy's team sheet. For him, the reputation of Welsh players speaks louder than their current selection challenges.