A tough campaign for Warren Gatland’s side so far follows a one-win Six Nations and summer defeats by the Springboks and Australia, equaling their worst 10 Test defeats in a row after being beaten at home by Fiji earlier in the set. a new low mark after a sobering 52-20 thrashing by the resurgent Wallabies last weekend.
The shocking sequence has deepened the sense of crisis surrounding Welsh rugby and fueled intense speculation over the future of Gatland, whose second stint at the Principality Stadium is proving to be a disaster.
Gatland met with the head of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) in the dressing room after the demolition by Australia and admitted he will consider the season.
The former Lions coach – who offered to step down after a shock defeat by Italy in this year’s Six Nations – then said earlier this week that he would step down if it was in the interests of Welsh rugby, although he also insisted he wanted to do so. at work as he also dismissed reports of a break clause in his contract after the 2025 Six Nations.
Speculation continues that Saturday could represent Gatland’s last game in charge, especially if Wales are set to suffer another heavy defeat.
Back-to-back world champions South Africa arrive in Cardiff after seeing off England and Scotland in back-to-back weeks, following their first Rugby Championship win since 2019.
Wales vs South Africa date, kick-off time and venue
Wales vs South Africa will be held on Saturday 23 November 2024 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:40 GMT, which is 19:40 in South Africa.
It was the last game of the autumn for both teams, with Wales losing to Fiji and Australia and the Springboks beating Scotland and England so far.
How to watch Wales vs South Africa
TV channels: The game will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2, with coverage starting at 17:15 GMT.
Fans can also catch the action live on Welsh language channel S4C, where the build-up starts at 17:00 GMT.
Live broadcast: TNT Sport subscribers can watch the match live online via the Discovery+ app and website, with web coverage also available via S4C.
Live blog: You can follow the contest on Saturday evening with Standard sport dedicated live match blog.
Wales vs South Africa team news
Wales showed four changes to the side thrashed by Australia, with Sam Costelow starting at fly-half over Gareth Anscombe and Rio Dyer brought to the wing as Blair Murray shifts to full-back in place of Cam Winnett.
In the pack, injured lock Adam Beard was replaced by Christ Tshiunza and Aaron Wainright made way for Taine Plumtree at number eight. Out-of-favour forward Freddie Thomas – a former England international – looks set to make his Test debut from the bench, with Gloucester teammate Josh Hathaway also earning a promotion.
South African head coach Rassie Erasmus has been forced into a final change on the eve of the game, with Jean Kleyn forced out of the squad due to injury and Eben Etzebeth promoted from the bench to start in the lock again alongside Franco Mostert. Marco van Staden moved to the bench.
Drafted in: Sam Costelow has replaced Gareth Anscombe at fly-half for Wales
Getty Images
There are seven original changes from the Boks with Erasmus continuing to shuffle the pack and showing that he is formidable in depth, with brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse partner together at half back for the very first time.
The rest of the changes were in the pack, with Mostert coming in for RG Snyman and Thomas du Toit replacing the rested Ox Nche in the front row.
Johan Grobbelaar replaced Bongi Mbonambi at hooker and Elrigh Louw lined up in the back row with Pieter-Steph du Toit having returned to the front with a shoulder problem.
Nche was initially due to start despite picking up a knee injury against England, but a change of heart later saw Thomas du Toit switch to loosehead and Wilco Louw restart at tighthead.
Kwagga Smith, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen and Makazol Mapimpi have all now left the squad, along with Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Lineup Wales vs South Africa
Wales XV: Murray; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Dyer; Costelow, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (c), Griffin; Rowlands, Tshiunza; Botham, Morgan, Plumtree
Replacement: Elias, Smith, Assiratti, F Thomas, Reffell, R Williams, James, Hathaway
South Africa XV: Fassi; Kolbe, Kriel, De Allende, Arendse; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; T du Toit, J Grobbelaar, W Louw; Etzebeth, Mostert; Kolisi (c), E Louw, Wiese
Replacement: Marx, Steenekamp, ​​Koch, Van Staden, Snyman, Hanekom, Reinach, Pollard
Wales vs South Africa head to head (h2h) history and results
Free Fall Wales should not look to their recent head-to-head record for any crumb of comfort as they desperately seek a rot-stopping victory on Saturday.
South Africa have won six of the last seven matches between the two countries, including three in a row.
He last played at Twickenham in June, when the Springboks ran in five tries and won 41-13 against an experimental Wales side who were shown two yellow cards early on down to 13 men.
Wales’ only win against South Africa since 2018 came on the 2022 summer tour, when they beat them for the first time with a 13-12 victory in Bloemfontein before losing in the tie-breaker.
Wales vs South Africa Prediction
It’s impossible to make a case for anything other than a dominant South African victory this weekend.
Wales look set to hit rock bottom and have a Herculean task ahead of them not to go an entire calendar year without winning a single Test match for the first time since all the way back in 1937.
We expect another decisive performance from the Springboks to hasten the end of Gatland’s second spell in charge.
South Africa won, by 20 points.
Wales vs South Africa match
South Africa to win: 1/40
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
