As Wales attempt to rediscover the form that took them to the Grand Slam, they could well do without facing a winger who embodies the opportunistic counter-attacking style they themselves displayed to such good effect last spring.
Today, however, they come up against Bryan Habana, a devastating user of turnover ball, currently averaging a try per international and dubbed The Guy with Jet Shoes by the press.
With three Tri-Nations tries to his name this year, Habana is already South Africa's player of the year and is on the shortlist for the IRB and IRPA awards as well.
All this in an international career just a year old, his debut cap dating back to last autumn's match against England, when he scored his first Test try within five minutes of leaving the bench.
Habana is just one of an exciting new generation of Springboks who have contributed to the transformation of Jake White's side since their poor 2003 World Cup, lifting South Africa to second in the world rankings.
Today, with Andre Pretorius injured, White fields an uncapped outhalf, the hulking Meyer Bosman - 6ft 3in and almost 15st - alongside a scrumhalf, Michael Claessens, making his first start after four caps as a replacement.
"It's always a big call when you pick a new cap, but Meyer is a player who complements the rest of the backs," said White. "We have done well on tour in the past with big fly-halves like Henry Honibal. He (Meyer) is big and tall, passes well off both hands, has time on the ball and has solid defensive capabilities."
As South Africa attempt to take their record against Wales to 17 wins in 19 meetings, White makes four changes from the side that beat Argentina 34-23 in Buenos Aires a fortnight ago.
As well as bringing in his callow halfbacks, he rests the loosehead prop Os du Randt ahead of next weekend's final Test against France, while Schalk Burger replaces Solomzi Tyibilika on the flank, having got over a bizarre training accident - he lost part of a tooth, which was kept in a canister until he could be taken to a dentist.
Wales, however, are the team who have been looking toothless of late and their side includes 10 changes from the one booed at half-time en route to a last-ditch victory over Fiji last Friday.
Wing Dafydd James is back in the side after a three-year absence, Luke Charteris replaces the injured Brent Cockbain at lock, Lee Byrne starts at fullback and captain Gareth Thomas moves to centre alongside Sonny Parker as Gareth Cooper takes over at scrumhalf. In the front row, Chris Horsman and Rhys Thomas are preferred to Adam Jones and Mefin Davies.
Sounding like a man seeking any scrap of comfort he could find, Wales coach Mike Ruddock said: "Sometimes when people write you off that can be a good motivator. We can go out and play with the mindset of underdogs - which means we can get stuck in and close down South Africa - but then play like champions when we get the chance.
"We were underdogs going to France last year in the Six Nations and it suited us."
Guardian Service
