Wales v South Africa LIVE rugby: Build-up and updates as crisis-hit Wales face daunting Springboks test
Follow all the action from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as Wales try to pull off a huge upset and avoid a winless 2024
Wales will look to avoid the ignominy of a winless 2024 as they face reigning double world champions South Africa in Cardiff as huge underdogs this afternoon.
Warren Gatland’s side look completely bereft of confidence and belief as their losing streak has reached a record-breaking 11 games and they are massive outsiders at 20-1 with bookmakers, despite being on home soil, to stun a fearsome Springboks side at the Principality Stadium.
Gatland has looked like something of a broken man at points over the last year and questions about his job security have hugely increased following the historically bad past 12 months, with a real chance that he may leave before the Six Nations begins in February.
A young, inexperienced Welsh team will hope to give a good account of themselves in their Autumn Nations Series finale but even a Springboks side that Rassie Erasmus has made a handful of changes to should have far too much for their hosts after already beating England and Scotland this autumn to follow up their summer Rugby Championship success.
Follow all the action from Cardiff in our live blog below:
The two sides of Springboks enforcer Eben Etzebeth: ‘On the pitch, my mindset switches’
Jean Kleyn’s withdrawal yesterday means another record-extending start for Eben Etzebeth, the most capped South African rugby player of all time. With another World Player of the Year nod entirely possible, I spoke to him ahead of the autumn to get inside the mind of the Springboks’ enforcer:
The two sides of Springboks enforcer Etzebeth: ‘On the pitch, my mindset switches’
Now with more Test caps than any other South African in history, the lock opens up to Harry Latham-Coyle about his team-first attitude, friendship with Siya Kolisi and how he stays calm in the heat of battle
World Rugby award nominees
Lock Eben Etzebeth, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and wing Cheslin Kolbe have all been nominated for World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year in a Springboks-dominated shortlist, but there is no place for South Africa teammate Ox Nche with the prop snubbed by the voting panel.
Loosehead Nche had appeared to be among the standout candidates for the award after an outstanding year at international level, yet has missed out to his three colleagues and Ireland’s Caelan Doris. No prop has ever made the shortlist for the prestigious individual gong, which was first awarded in 2001.
Springboks dominate Player of the Year shortlist but Ox Nche snubbed by World Rugby
No prop has ever won World Rugby’s Men’s Player of the Year award and Nche has failed to make a four-player shortlist
TNT Sports encouraged by Autumn Nations Series viewing figures
The November rugby internationals have seen strong levels of interest across Europe with executives at governing bodies and broadcasters understood to be pleased with viewing figures.
TNT Sports, who are in their first year as the UK broadcaster of the Autumn Nations Series after taking over from Amazon, are said to be particularly encouraged by the week-on-week growth in interest in their first significant, sustained involvement in international rugby.
The England vs South Africa clash last weekend set a new record rugby audience for the channel, formerly BT Sport, with interest in line with top Premier League and Champions League games.
TNT Sports encouraged by Autumn Nations Series viewing figures
Exclusive: England vs South Africa set a new record for a rugby audience on the channel with executives across the game pleased with growth ahead of a vital time in the television rights market
Late Welsh changes!
A bit of pre-match shuffling for Wales with an ill Gareth Thomas and Tom Rogers, dealing with a sore calf, both forced to withdraw. Prop Nicky Smith and wing Josh Hathaway are promoted from the bench; Kemsley Mathias and Owen Watkin are called in as replacements.
Updated Wales XV: 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 3 Archie Griffin; 4 Will Rowlands, 5 Christ Tshiunza; 6 James Botham, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Taine Plumtree; 9 Ellis Bevan, 10 Sam Costelow; 11 Rio Dyer, 12 Ben Thomas, 13 Max Llewellyn, 14 Josh Hathaway; 15 Blair Murray.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell; 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Eddie James, 23 Owen Watkin.
Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus reveal the secrets behind the Springboks’ evolution
Rugby is a game of grey areas. From foul play to scrum-time skirmish, one’s opinion on a particular incident can vary greatly depending on the lens through which it is viewed. Even top officials disagree with regularity on moments of contention, while plenty a perplexed look from a player has betrayed an alternate view at a coaching or refereeing call.
It is partly through their ability to thrive within these indeterminate spaces that has helped the Springboks become double World Cup winners. While their unique approach to the sport has so often driven debate, South Africa have generally managed to innovate or dominate in ways that no other side seems capable. From loading up with seven forwards on the bench to maximise their second-half scrum impact, to employing traffic lights in the coaches’ box to improve on-field decision-making, it is a side that searches for every possible edge.
But now even the Springboks are stepping out of the grey.
Siya Kolisi and Rassie Erasmus reveal the secrets behind the Springboks’ evolution
Double world champions South Africa have transformed into a more attacking side this year as they bid to maintain their place at the top of the rugby world
Warren Gatland is the best coach in the world says Wales assistant Rob Howley
Wales assistant Rob Howley has described Warren Gatland as the world’s best coach and insists the under-fire boss is going nowhere.
“We’ve got the best coach in the world who has had a legacy of over 13 years,” Howley said. “He has won grand slams, and there is no better coach to have in your camp than Warren Gatland. He gives players the confidence and self-belief they need to go out and play.
“He is a hugely respected coach and has coached over a number of years. His legacy with different teams is a winning legacy. I think that at the moment we are in this spell where we are losing and losing. We, at some point, know we will win, and I hope it will be on Saturday.
“I just feel at the moment we’ve got the best coach who has got years of experience. He understands rugby, and I believe that Wales have got the best coach in the world to get us out of this.”
Wales v South Africa talking points: Six Nations offers little respite
With Wales expected to end the year reeling from 12 successive Test defeats, attention will quickly turn to the Six Nations, which they begin against France in Paris on January 31.
It is the toughest of openers, then Wales head to Rome eight days later for an appointment with Italy that is already being billed in some quarters as a wooden spoon decider.
Heavyweights Ireland and England will make the journey to Cardiff, either side of a Murrayfield clash against Scotland, where Wales lost 35-7 on their last visit in 2023. The losing run has to end some time, somewhere, but pinpointing an exact date and location is far from straightforward.
Wales v South Africa talking points: Springboks’ enviable strength
South Africa’s revered rugby juggernaut rolls into Cardiff for a game the Springboks are expected to win easily.
Even though head coach Rassie Erasmus has made several changes from the team that saw off England last time out, the starting line-up still has a combined 515 caps, while the bench total of 431 is almost 100 more than Wales’ entire match-day 23.
It is difficult to see an area of the game where Wales can establish parity, let alone dominance, and South Africa’s record victory in the Welsh capital of 52-16 could come under serious threat. It is easy to be pessimistic, given Wales’ current plight, but reality points to South Africa cutting loose.
Wales v South Africa talking points: Have Wales fans had enough?
Judging by the numbers that streamed out of the Principality Stadium as Australia ran riot late in Wales’ last game, patience would appear to be wearing thin.
There were hundreds of empty seats by the time Australia eased past 50 points, and why would supporters not feel disillusioned with the current state of affairs?
The first two autumn fixtures were a combined 30,000-plus short of capacity, and while kick-off times have not helped – there were two Sunday games at 1.40pm and 4.10pm, and the South Africa match will swing into action at 5.40pm – Wales fans in many cases are voting with their feet, and the prospect of another comprehensive defeat looms large.
Wales v South Africa talking points: Wales’s year from hell
Results-wise, 2024 will be remembered as the worst in Wales’ 143-year international rugby union history. It began with a madcap 27-26 home defeat against Scotland – the Scots’ first win in Cardiff since 2002 – and they did not recover.
A narrow away loss to England followed, before Wales shipped 31 and 45 points against Ireland and France, while a home defeat against Italy meant they lost every Six Nations game and propped up the table.
The summer brought further reversals against South Africa and Australia (twice), then Fiji and Australia triumphed during the Autumn Nations Series, leaving the Springboks in position to complete what would be a true annus horribilis.
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