It has been a woeful campaign for Warren Gatland’s side thus far to follow a one-win Six Nations and summer defeats by the Springboks and Australia, equalling their worst-ever run of 10 successive Test defeats after being edged out at home by Fiji before setting a new low mark after a sobering 52-20 thrashing by the resurgent Wallabies last weekend.
Such a harrowing sequence has deepened the ongoing sense of crisis around Welsh rugby and led to fervent speculation over the future of Gatland, whose second stint in charge at the Principality Stadium is proving to be a disaster.
Gatland met with Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chiefs in the changing room after the demolition by Australia and admitted he would consider his future.
The former Lions coach – who offered to step down after a dreadful defeat by Italy in this year’s Six Nations – then said earlier this week that he would resign if it was in the best interests of Welsh rugby, though also insisted that he wanted to carry on in the job as he also dismissed reports of a break clause in his contract following the 2025 Six Nations.
Speculation continues that Saturday could represent Gatland’s final match in charge, particularly in the likely event that Wales are on the receiving end of another heavy defeat.
Reigning back-to-back world champions South Africa arrive in Cardiff having seen off both England and Scotland in successive weeks, following up their first Rugby Championship triumph since 2019.
Wales vs South Africa date, kick-off time and venue
Wales vs South Africa takes place on Saturday November 23, 2024 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Kick-off is slated for 5:40pm GMT, which is 7:40pm in South Africa.
It is the final match of the autumn for both of these teams, with Wales having lost to Fiji and Australia and the Springboks defeated both Scotland and England thus far.
How to watch Wales vs South Africa
TV channel: The game will be shown live in the UK on TNT Sports 2, with coverage beginning at 5:15pm GMT.
Fans can also catch the action live via Welsh-language channel S4C, where build-up begins at 5pm GMT.
Live stream: TNT Sport subscribers can view the match live online via the Discovery+ app and website, with web coverage also available via S4C.
Live blog: You can follow Saturday evening’s contest with Standard Sport’s dedicated live match blog.
Wales vs South Africa team news
Wales show four changes to the side thrashed by Australia, with Sam Costelow starting at fly-half over Gareth Anscombe and Rio Dyer brought onto the wing as Blair Murray shifts to full-back in place of Cam Winnett.
In the pack, injured lock Adam Beard is replaced by Christ Tshiunza and Aaron Wainright makes way for Taine Plumtree at number eight. Versatile uncapped forward Freddie Thomas – a former England youth international – looks set to make his Test debut off the bench, with Gloucester team-mate Josh Hathaway also earning a promotion.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has been forced into a late change on the eve of the game, with Jean Kleyn forced out of the squad through injury and Eben Etzebeth promoted from the bench to start at lock again alongside Franco Mostert. Marco van Staden moves onto the bench.
Drafted in: Sam Costelow has replaced Gareth Anscombe at fly-half for Wales
Getty Images
There were seven original changes from the Boks with Erasmus continuing to shuffle his pack and showcase that formidable strength in depth, with brothers Jaden and Jordan Hendrikse partnered together at half-back for the very first time.
The rest of the alterations 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 replaces Bongi Mbonambi at hooker and Elrigh Louw lines up in the back row with Pieter-Steph du Toit having returned home with a shoulder issue.
Nche had initially been due to start despite a nasty cut to his knee suffered against England, but a change of heart then saw Thomas du Toit switch to loosehead and Wilco Louw start again at tighthead.
Kwagga Smith, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen and Makazole Mapimpi have all now left the squad, along with Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Wales vs South Africa lineups
Wales XV: Murray; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Dyer; Costelow, Bevan; G Thomas, Lake (c), Griffin; Rowlands, Tshiunza; Botham, Morgan, Plumtree
Replacements: 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
Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, Van Staden, Snyman, Hanekom, Reinach, Pollard
Wales vs South Africa head to head (h2h) history and results
Free-falling Wales should not look at the 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 nations, including three in a row.
They last played at Twickenham back in June, when the Springboks ran in five tries and won 41-13 against an experimental Wales team who were shown two yellow cards early on to fall to 13 men.
Wales’s only win over South Africa since 2018 came on their 2022 summer tour, when they beat them away for the very first time courtesy of a tense 13-12 victory in Bloemfontein before losing the series decider.
Wales vs South Africa prediction
It’s impossible to make a case for anything other than a dominant South Africa victory this weekend.
Wales look to be hitting rock bottom and have a Herculean task ahead not to go a whole calendar year without winning a single Test match for the first time since all the way back in 1937.
We fully expect another decisive showing from the Springboks to likely hasten the end of Gatland’s miserable second spell in charge.
South Africa to win, by 20 points.
Wales vs South Africa match odds
South Africa to win: 1/40
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
