CARDIFF - South Africa take on Wales in the season-ending international Test on Saturday at a time when the gulf between the two rugby nations has never been more apparent.
The Springboks are back-to-back world champions and arrive in the Welsh capital in high spirits on the back of wins over Japan (61-7), France (32-17), Italy (32-14) and Ireland (24-13).
A victory in Cardiff would mark the second successive season that they complete an Autumn Series clean sweep.
It would also mean a 12th victory in 14 Tests this year, including a 67-30 thrashing of Argentina and a record 43-10 win over New Zealand in Wellington.
Wales, however, languish in 11th spot in the world rankings, their only two Test victories since the 2023 Rugby World Cup over Japan.
They beat them in Japan in July -- ending a run of 18 successive defeats -- and in Cardiff two weeks ago, which was the hosts first home win in over two years.
Having conceded 52 points to both Argentina and New Zealand this November, pundits fear for Saturday's game, which is being played outside the international window.
As a result Wales coach Steve Tandy has lost 13 players, who have returned to their clubs.
It has left the Welsh team depleted and looking decidedly underpowered for the clash at the Prinicipality Stadium.
While Bok coach Rassie Erasmus has also faced the departure of several big names, including newly-crowned world player of the year Malcolm Marx, the strength in depth he has developed means Wales will face a formidable South Africa side.
Eben Etzebeth, with 140 caps to his name, is named as part of a monster "Bomb Squad" bench featuring seven forwards and just one back, Cobus Reinach.
There are 374 caps alone among the Bok replacements. Wales' starting XV boasts just 267 and their three front row replacements only two between them.