Match Day Programme: Wales v South Africa

In a fixture that never lack in physicality, or intensity, the defending world champion Springboks, arrive at the Principality Stadium today in Cardiff with one goal in mind: to end their tour of Europe undefeated. When both sides met in 2022 during a Wales tour of South Africa, the Dragons earned their first ever win in South Africa albeit losing the series 2-1. Thank you for joining us, this is Ultimate Rugby Match Day

Fixture: Wales vs South Africa

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

Kickoff Time: 17:40 (GMT)

Referee: Karl Dickson 

Head-to-head Played:

Played: 42

Wales Wins: 7

South Africa Wins: 34

Draws: 1

Points for:

Wales: 671

South Africa: 1,112 

Biggest winning margin:

Wales: 14 (26 November 2016)

South Africa: 83 (27 June 1998)

Last Meeting:  22 July 2024 – South Africa 41-13 Wales, Twickenham Stadium, London

2024 Autumn Nation Series

Wales

­L 19-24 (h) v Fiji

L 52-20 (h) v England

2024 Autumn Nation Series

South Africa

W 15-32 (a) v Scotland

W 20-29 (a) v England

Team News

Wales: There are five changes from the team that started the match against Australia last Sunday. Rio Dyer will play his first game in the Autumn Series this year while Tom Rogers will keep his place on the other wing. Moving from the wing to the full back position will be Blair Murray. Sam Costelow has been chosen to start in the fly-haf position for the first time in this year's series.

South Africa: The team features a new lock combination of the fit-again Jean Kleyn (who last appeared in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final) and Franco Mostert, while the only change in the loose trio is at flanker, where Elrigh Louw replaces Pieter-Steph du Toit (who is nursing a shoulder niggle) and will start alongside captain Siya Kolisi and hard-running No 8 Jasper Wiese.

Trivia

• A win or a draw for the Springboks would complete the first undefeated northern hemisphere tour since 2013.

• This will be the second time the teams meet in the UK this season after playing an international friendly in their opening match of the season at the Allianz Stadium in June.