Erasmus and Gatland have coached towards each and every alternative for Wales and South Africa, occasion the 2 had been the opposing head coaches when the Springboks defeated the British and Irish Lions in 2021.

“We’ve had good discussions. I think it was in Twickenham where we last saw each other last summer,” mentioned Erasmus.

“We had a good chat there about the Lions series. Although we’ve bumped heads in the past, he’s a rugby man through and through.

“Training can turn into abandoned, It’s cut-throat. Every time any individual is beneath the pump, you don’t want anything else wicked on that particular person.

“I wouldn’t say I’d love him to beat us, but I’d love him to be successful. I’ve got a lot of respect for him and hope he gets the respect from everyone he deserves.”

Erasmus took the South Africa reins in 2018, when the Springboks had been at a low ebb, earlier than guiding them to International Cup good fortune in 2019 and 2023.

“It’s tough to talk about other people’s situations, but I can try and put myself in Warren’s [shoes] because I have been there before,” mentioned Erasmus.

“Sometimes you just turn it around because players believe in a coach, sometimes you just say a right word and the players say they are going to do it for the coach and the country.

“We’re making ready for the Wales we all know. We discover them very matching to Argentina, virtually like South Africans, relating to crowd running dehydrated and avid gamers who’ve farmland it out earlier than.

“They are a team with everything to gain and nothing to lose.”