Crisis-hit Wales face daunting South Africa challenge in Cardiff - live updates

[ad_1] Springboks arrive for Autumn Nations Sequence in opposition to Scotland, England and Wales Wales will look to keep away from the ignominy of a winless 2024 as they face reigning double world champions South Africa in Cardiff as enormous underdogs this afternoon.

Warren Gatland’s facet look utterly bereft of confidence and perception as their dropping streak has reached a record-breaking 11 video games and they're large outsiders at 20-1 with bookmakers, regardless of being on house soil, to stun a fearsome Springboks facet on the Principality Stadium.

Gatland has appeared like one thing of a damaged man at factors over the past yr and questions on his job safety have vastly elevated following the traditionally dangerous previous 12 months, with an actual likelihood that he could depart earlier than the Six Nations begins in February.

A younger, inexperienced Welsh group will hope to offer account of themselves of their Autumn Nations Sequence finale however even a Springboks facet that Rassie Erasmus has made a handful of modifications to ought to have far an excessive amount of for his or her hosts after already beating England and Scotland this autumn to observe up their summer time Rugby Championship success.

Observe all of the motion from Cardiff in our dwell weblog under:

Wales v South Africa - dwell updates from Cardiff Disaster-hit Wales host reigning double world champions South Africa in Cardiff | Kick-off at 5.40pm GMT, dwell on TNT Sports activities and Discovery+Defeat will see Wales go your entire calendar yr with out a single winWarren Gatland is having to reply critical questions on his future after 11 straight lossesThe Springboks have overwhelmed Scotland and England this autumn after successful the Rugby Championship within the summerTEAM NEWS: Gatland makes 4 modifications to Wales with Costelow, Dyer, Plumtree and Tshiunza coming inTEAM NEWS: Seven modifications for the Springboks together with the Hendrikse brothers beginning at No 9 and No 10 Wales v South Africa speaking factors: Springboks’ enviable power South Africa’s revered rugby juggernaut rolls into Cardiff for a recreation the Springboks are anticipated to win simply.

Though head coach Rassie Erasmus has made a number of modifications from the group that noticed off England final day trip, the beginning line-up nonetheless has a mixed 515 caps, whereas the bench whole of 431 is nearly 100 greater than Wales’ whole match-day 23.

It's tough to see an space of the sport the place Wales can set up parity, not to mention dominance, and South Africa’s report victory within the Welsh capital of 52-16 might come beneath critical menace. It's straightforward to be pessimistic, given Wales’ present plight, however actuality factors to South Africa chopping free.

(AFP through Getty Pictures) Luke Baker 23 November 2024 15:50

Wales v South Africa speaking factors: Have Wales followers had sufficient? Judging by the numbers that streamed out of the Principality Stadium as Australia ran riot late in Wales’ final recreation, endurance would look like carrying skinny.

There have been a whole bunch of empty seats by the point Australia eased previous 50 factors, and why would supporters not really feel disillusioned with the present state of affairs?

The primary two autumn fixtures have been a mixed 30,000-plus in need of capability, and whereas kick-off occasions haven't helped – there have been two Sunday video games at 1.40pm and 4.10pm, and the South Africa match will swing into motion at 5.40pm – Wales followers in lots of instances are voting with their toes, and the prospect of one other complete defeat looms massive.

(AFP through Getty Pictures) Luke Baker 23 November 2024 15:40

Wales v South Africa speaking factors: Wales’s yr from hell Outcomes-wise, 2024 can be remembered because the worst in Wales’ 143-year worldwide rugby union historical past. It started with a madcap 27-26 house defeat in opposition to Scotland – the Scots’ first win in Cardiff since 2002 – and they didn't get better.

A slim away loss to England adopted, earlier than Wales shipped 31 and 45 factors in opposition to Eire and France, whereas a house defeat in opposition to Italy meant they misplaced each Six Nations recreation and propped up the desk.

The summer time introduced additional reversals in opposition to South Africa and Australia (twice), then Fiji and Australia triumphed in the course of the Autumn Nations Sequence, leaving the Springboks in place to finish what can be a real annus horribilis.

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Wales v South Africa speaking factors: Farewell to Warren Gatland? Gatland is beneath intense strain, and it could be no shock if Saturday’s Principality Stadium encounter seems to be his final Take a look at match accountable for Wales.

The New Zealander has expressed his need to proceed, however outcomes are stacked in opposition to him. Wales haven't gained a Take a look at because the 2023 World Cup, whereas defeat this weekend would condemn them to an entire calendar yr with out tasting Take a look at match success, which has not occurred since 1937.

It's conceivable that Gatland, whose second stint as Wales head coach is in stark distinction to a trophy-laden first time period from 2008 to 2019, might proceed into the Six Nations later this season, but the percentages don't seem in his favour.

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Wales vs South Africa prediction: Boks set to beat up sorry Welsh facet Wales host world champions South Africa on the Principality Stadium on Saturday night and rugby betting websites don’t give the house facet a lot hope of snapping their report 11-game dropping run

Fairly merely, it has been one of many worst years in Welsh rugby historical past as they've didn't win a single recreation in 2024 and it's now over 400 days since their final victory, in opposition to Georgia on the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with the autumn providing no respite from the distress.

Try our predictions and betting ideas for the conflict:

Luke Baker 23 November 2024 15:10

Damaged Wales face rugby’s largest take a look at as Warren Gatland goals to keep away from one other new low Many a pissed off author searching for a metaphor has plucked from the passages of 1 Samuel previously however this week, the story of David and Goliath feels apt. Solid, naturally, within the position of the scary Philistine large are the world champion Springboks; enjoying their half because the younger, overmatched shepherd are a Wales facet overwhelmed of their final 11 video games and swallowing down nervously the fact that a complete calendar yr with out a win beckons.

David was at the least armed with a employees, 5 stones and a slingshot; of their present configuration, Warren Gatland’s facet look comparatively underpowered. Harmonious elegies appear to play every time a callow facet enterprise in to the grounds of their as soon as intimidating Cardiff fortress, mournful howls from the bastions from a public by now anticipating little – and but nonetheless discovering themselves disenchanted.

Learn Harry Latham-Coyle’s full preview of this afternoon’s conflict:

Luke Baker 23 November 2024 15:00

South Africa group information South Africa pair the Hendrikse brothers within the halves, with Jaden’s inclusion at 9 and Jordan’s at ten the one modifications to the beginning Springboks backline that beat England. There are different alterations up entrance, the place Johan Grobbelaar, Thomas du Toit, Franco Mostert and Elrigh Louw all are available.

Ox Nche had initially been named within the facet having recovered sufficiently from a minimize to his knee, however has now been rested with Wilco Louw beginning once more, whereas Eben Etzebeth steps up after Jean Kleyn was compelled to withdraw with a niggle. Cameron Hanekom, who would have certified for Wales through his grandmother, is ready to change into South Africa’s twelfth debutant of the yr having been named as one in every of six forwards on the bench.

South Africa XV: 1 Thomas du Toit, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 3 Wilco Louw; 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert; 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 7 Elrigh Louw, 8 Jasper Wiese; 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 10 Jordan Hendrikse; 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 12 Damian de Allende, 13 Jesse Kriel, 14 Cheslin Kolbe; 15 Aphelele Fassi.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Marco van Staden, 20 RG Snyman, 21 Cameron Hanekom; 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Handre Pollard.

Harry Latham-Coyle 23 November 2024 14:45

Wales group information Warren Gatland makes quite a few modifications to the Wales facet that started in opposition to Australia, with Sam Costelow promoted to exchange Gareth Anscombe at fly half. Aaron Wainwright and Cameron Winnett, two of Gatland’s greatest performers this yr, are additionally absent, whereas key lock cog Adam Beard is dominated out with a knee subject.

Rio Dyer returns on the wing and Christ Tshiunza and Taine Plumtree are introduced in to the beginning pack. On the bench, Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas is primed for a debut.

Wales XV: 1 Gareth Thomas, 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 Tom Rogers; 15 Blair Murray.

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Tommy Reffell; 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Eddie James, 23 Josh Hathaway.

Luke Baker 23 November 2024 14:30

When is Wales vs South Africa? Wales vs South Africa is because of kick off at 5.40pm GMT on Saturday 23 November on the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

Viewers in the UK can watch the match dwell on TNT Sports activities 1, with protection on the channel from 5.15pm GMT. Subscribers can stream the motion through discovery+.

Luke Baker 23 November 2024 14:15

Every little thing you might want to find out about Wales v South Africa A wounded Wales face the hardest of duties in opposition to South Africa as Warren Gatland’s facet welcome the world champions to Cardiff.

With Wales so missing in confidence, one other damaging afternoon may very well be on the playing cards however a younger facet can be hoping to point out their spirit of their last Autumn Nations Sequence fixture.