The Springboks will look to inflict a 12th straight Test defeat on Wales when the sides meet at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 23 November. Here’s everything you need to know.
Wales in dire straits as they prepare for double World Cup-winning Springboks
Never before has Welsh rugby been at such a low ebb. They’ve not won a Test match since 23 October, that 43-19 win coming against Georgia in the Pool stage of RWC 2023. Since then they’ve lost 12 on the spin, including damaging home defeats during the Autumn Nations Series against Fiji – the islanders’ first on Welsh soil – and Australia.
That second loss against the Wallabies was a tough watch. Large sections of the upper terraces at the Principality were empty, while supporters began to stream from their seats with 20 minutes left to play against the Aussies, to whom they fell to a 52-20 defeat.
Unfortunately, things don’t get any easier this weekend with Rassie Erasmus naming an almost full-strength side to face the Dragons. The two big talking points are the inclusion of Jordan Hendrikse nad Cameron Hannekom. Henrikse will don the 10 jumper and will partner brother Jaden who starts at scrumhalf.
Hanekom will make his bow from the bench in a 6/2 split. There was speculation about whether he’d opt to represent Wales after initially being overlooked for the November tour. However, he was called up after Damian Willemse had to withdraw because of injury and has his sights firmly set on becoming another star in the Springboks’ dazzling array of loosies.
Saturday’s encounter will be an opportunity for the Springboks to right some of the wrongs from their previous two Autumn Nations Series matches. Those wins against Scotland and England were far from convincing, punctuated by uncharacteristic handling errors and the concession of far too many penalties.
Interestingly, Ox Nche was named in the starting line-up for this clash. However, Erasmus revealed that he’ll now be rested, with Wilco Louw coming into the starting line-up. Louw was excellent last week against England and got the better of Ellis Genge at scrum time.
Louw will pack down with alongside Johan Grobbelaar and Thomas du Toit in the front row. There is also a new locking combination, with Jean Kleyn and Franco Mostert set to start in the engine room. The only change in the loose forwards sees Eligh Louw come in for PSdT with Siya Kolisi and Jasper Wiese completing a powerhouse loose trio.
The only changes in the backs see the Henrikse brothers partner one another at 9 and 10. Otherwise, the Boks are unchanged from last week across the midfield and back three. Wales will need to get up for this or it could be a long old evening for them.
11 – Wales have now lost 11 consecutive Test matches, their longest ever run in men’s rugby, overtaking a run of 10 between November 2002 and August 2003. Bleak.#AutumnNationsSeries pic.twitter.com/0tRZpBXLrd
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) November 17, 2024
How to watch?
No changes from last week when it comes to the broadcast times. The build-up gets underway at 18:30 on Supersports Grandstand (channel 201 on DStv) with the live crossing for kick-off at 19:30.
Betting odds
The Springboks are not expected to lose on Saturday. In fact, anything less than a convincing victory will be considered a failure against a side in absolute disarray. At Hollywoodbets, we make the world champions 26.5-point favourites against the struggling Welsh.
Check out the match betting and handicap spread below.
To Win Match
Wales 13/1 | Draw 40/1 | South Africa 1/100
Handicap
Wales (+26.5) 9/10 | South Africa (-26.5) 9/10
The Principality Stadium
The Springboks will be pleased to play this game at the Principality. Videos emerging from the side’s training sessions have been beamed across social media showing snow-covered training pitches with players and support staff donning in their winter gear.
Thankfully, the Principality Stadium features a marvellous retractable roof which will be closed come Saturday. It’s no stranger to massive events either having hosted the 2017 Champions League final and five European Champions Cup finals.
The Boks have won 10 of the 15 encounters between the sides at the ground since 1999, including the two most recent meetings – a 23-18 Autumn Nations Series win in 2021 followed by that 52-16 demolition job ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
The conditions in Cardiff where the Springboks are training this week ❄️🧊
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 20, 2024
Rain is expected in Saturday's #AutumnNationsSeries clash at the Principality Stadium 🌧️ pic.twitter.com/v1piRrNvZK
Last meeting & head-to-head
The sides last met at Twickenham in June this year, with the Springboks running out 41-13 winners. That scoreline, however, doesn’t tell the full tale. The Welsh, down to 13 men at one point in the first half, went into the sheds just a point behind the Boks and were very much in the game until two late tries by Bongi Mbonamib and Edwill van der Merwe put the game out of reach.
- 22 June 2024: SA won 41-13 in London.
- 19 August 2023: SA won 52-16 in Cardiff.
- 9 July 2022: WAL won 13-12 in Bloemfontein.
- 2 July 2022: SA Won 32-23 in Pretoria.
- 6 November 2021: SA won 23-18 in Cardiff.
Teams
Wales
15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Taine Plumtree, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 James Botham, 5 Christ Tshiunza, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Eddie James, 23 Josh Hathaway
South Africa
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Thomas du Toit
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Cameron Hanekom, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Handre Pollard
