An understrength Wales side faces a monumental challenge this weekend as they welcome the reigning world champions, South Africa, to Cardiff. The match concludes a demanding 2025 campaign for head coach Steve Tandy, whose team, while showing glimpses of promise, suffered a heavy defeat to New Zealand last time out.
Match Details and How to Watch
The crucial international fixture is scheduled for Saturday 29 November at the iconic Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The action gets underway at 3.10pm GMT.
For viewers across the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1. Coverage begins at 2pm GMT, giving fans a full hour of build-up. If you prefer to stream, you can catch the match live via the discovery+ service.
Team News and Squads
The Welsh camp has been significantly impacted, with a total of 13 players unavailable due to the match falling outside of World Rugby's official Test window. This rule prevents the selection of players based outside of Wales, leaving Tandy with a callow-looking squad. A further blow came with the injury to Tom Rogers, who scored a hat-trick against the All Blacks.
There is some positive news, however, as Aaron Wainwright has been declared fit and returns to bolster the back row. His comeback means Harri Deaves, who debuted last week, drops out of the squad. Cardiff's Danny Southworth is in line to earn his first cap from a substitutes' bench that lacks extensive experience.
The Springboks are also without several of their foreign-based stars, including key figures like Malcolm Marx and Cheslin Kolbe. Despite this, coach Rassie Erasmus has still named a formidable side. The powerful Andre Esterhuizen features in a sizeable backline, and Erasmus has opted for a seven-forward split on the bench, which includes the experienced Eben Etzebeth.
Confirmed Line-Ups
Wales XV: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Rhys Davies, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dewi Lake (capt.), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 James Ratti, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Ben Thomas.
South Africa XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (capt.), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Zachary Porthen, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach.
