South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi (L) vies with Wales’ Tomos Williams (red jersey) as South African Pieter-Steph Du Toit (C) looks on during the friendly Wales v South After Rugby match at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, June 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
Wales vs South Africa: Preview, team news, kick off and live stream
South Africa close out their eason with a clash against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardff on Saturday.
South Africa’s Makazole Mapimpi (L) vies with Wales’ Tomos Williams (red jersey) as South African Pieter-Steph Du Toit (C) looks on during the friendly Wales v South After Rugby match at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC, June 2, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON
For live scores and rolling updates from this fixture, follow our live blog.
A stern test awaits both Wales and South Africa as they square off at Principality Stadium in Cardiff in the last of their November Internationals.
The two sides will be meeting for the second time this year, after battling it out in Washington in June, where the Dragons prevailed, winning 22-20 to stretch their unbeaten run over the Springboks to three matches.
Wales vs South Africa preview
The hosts will also be looking to extend their winning streak since the beginning of their season to four matches, after seeing off Scotland, Australia, and Tonga in the matches leading up to Saturday’s clash.
They will line up against the Boks with a key player missing, as fullback Leigh Halfpenny has not been cleared to return to action after picking up a concussion against the Wallabies two weeks ago.
His place in the starting XV is taken by Liam Williams, who is set to make his 50th Test appearance, while Gareth Anscombe is likely to take over the goal-kicking duties.
For the Springboks, it’s a case of finishing the tour with some consistent results, having narrowly lost their opening Test against England at Twickenham.
Rassie Erasmus’ men have since picked up two wins on the trot, staging a belated rally to burgle a victory against France in Paris, before withstanding one from the Scots to run off victors in Edinburgh.
They welcome back experienced lock Eben Etzebeth, who did not feature in either of those victories after having to withdraw in the second half against England due to injury.
The big second-rower has returned to fitness, and slots in on the bench, replacing Lood de Jager in what is the only change to the matchday 23 for Saturday.
Erasmus has also opted to give young scrumhalf Embrose Papier another run in the number 9 jersey, despite first-choice scrumhalf Faf de Klerk being available for selection.
The Sale Sharks man misses out on selection completely, with Ivan van Zyl taking up a spot on the bench, while Louis Schreuder, the other scrumhalf in the touring party will leave Europe not having played a game.
Teams
Wales
Backs: Liam Williams, George North, Jonathan Davies, Hardley Parkes, Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe, Gareth Davies.
Forwards: Ross Moriarity, Justin Tipuric, Dan Lydiate, Alan-Wyn Jones (captain), Adam Beard, Tom Francis, Ken Owens, Nicky Smith.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rob Evans, Dillon Lewis, Cory Hill, Ellis Jenkins, Lloyd Williams, Dan Biggar, Owen Watkin.
South Africa
Backs: Willie le Roux, S’bu Nkosi, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier.
Forwards: Duane Vermeulen, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (captain), Franco Mostert, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Francois Louw, Ivan van Zyl, Elton Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe.
Kick off and where to watch
Kick off: 19:20 (SAST)
TV and live stream: Supersport 1 (SS1).
