Wales 12 South Africa 45
Not quite a record-breaking massacre, just an incredibly stark reminder of the gulf in class.
South Africa won comfortably without playing at their best against a raw Welsh side who were simply no match for the absurd power of the world champions’ scrum or their lethal pace out wide. This was Wales’ record 12th defeat in a row.
It always threatened to be a chastening experience for Wales side with only 339 caps to South Africa’s 963 and so it proved. The Springboks finished with seven tries and there might have been many more had it not been for Wales’ desperate defence.
Rarely do you check the record score for a fixture before the game has even started, but South Africa’s 96-13 mauling back in 1998, and whether it could be broken, had hung over this game all week.
James Botham’s early turnover felt like a welcome act of defiance, suggesting the world champions would not have it all their own way. The only problem was they needed about one hundred more of those moments. Wales must have thought the danger was over when they stopped Cheslin Kolbe’s run down the touchline, but the most inviting of gaps was left for Franco Mostert to gallop through for South Africa’s opening try inside six minutes.
One try was soon two and it was a similar story, Wales thinking they had shut down the danger with Sam Costelow’s catch in the air, only to be counter-rucked off the ball before Eben Etzebeth joined his second-row partner Mostert in finding the try line.
There was a point 12 minutes in where South Africa won a kickable penalty, right in front on the edge of the 22, and such were the early omens that you questioned whether they might take the three as a small act of mercy. They had other plans, so full credit to Wales for thwarting two mauls and holding firm in a couple of scrums before Botham and Jac Morgan held up Siya Kolisi over the line. On a day for small Welsh victories, that one mattered.
Except the pressure South Africa created produced so many penalties that Wales could barely leave their 22. And while you might be able to stop the maul, as Wales did, coping with the width and pace the Springboks now produce as well is an altogether different headache. It was too much for Wales; crisp passes from Kolbe and Aphelele Fassi taking out half the pitch to put Kurt-Lee Arendse over.
You felt for Archie Griffin, the young Bath prop up against his world-class senior club colleague Thomas du Toit, as South Africa bulldozed through one scrum to turn up the heat again. Only Blair Murray’s excellent work, beating Arendse in the air to a cross-field kick and then getting underneath Fassi to prevent another score, limited the damage.
Etzebeth was forced off before half an hour and met with a standing ovation from the Springboks fans – perhaps some Welsh supporters were also on their feet happy to see him heading off – although RG Snyman is hardly a quiet replacement.
Wales’ tackle count was alarming – 118 by the interval – and more than once they gave up soft penalties for tackling a player in the air. Plus the scrum was a total massacre, spelling the end for Griffin as he was withdrawn early by the coaching staff and setting the platform for Elrigh Louw’s try – minutes after Kolisi had been denied over an earlier knock-on.
The rarest slither of territory on the verge of half-time gave Wales a chance to salvage something, anything, from a desperate half, and while South Africa stopped three mauls they could not cover for Rio Dyer’s speed. There would be no whitewash, but South Africa had breezed into a 26-5 half-time lead.
Wales defended bravely for patches of that first half, no question, and Botham continued to dig deep at the breakdown. South Africa’s bomb squad arrived but their first act, through Vincent Koch, was to give away a penalty which set Wales up to strike again. The only problem was their mistakes were desperate; Dewi Lake overthrowing a five-metre attacking lineout, Josh Hathaway sending a clearance out on the full when the ball had been carried back in. Those blips just cannot happen against South Africa and a tough couple of minutes for Hathaway were capped by biting in hard on Arendse’s dummy, giving Fassi the easiest of finishes.
South Africa’s accuracy and intensity had begun to dip, understandably given the score, but there was still time for Cobus Reinach’s clever delayed offload to send Jordan Hendrikse for a seventh and final Springbok try, rounding off an unbeaten autumn.
Botham capped a battling performance with a late consolation score, but of greatest concern for Wales was that it could have been so much worse.
Match details
Scoring sequence: 0-5 Mostert try, 0-7 Jo Hendrikse con, 0-12 Etzebeth try, 0-17 Arendse try, 0-19 Jo Hendrikse con, 0-24 Louw try, 0-26 Jo Hendrikse con, 5-26 Dyer try, 5-31 Fassi try, 5-36 Steenekamp try, 5-38 Jo Hendrikse con, 5-43 Jo Hendrikse try, 5-45 Jo Hendrikse con, 10-45 Botham try, 12-45 B Thomas con
Wales: B Murray; J Hathaway, M Llewellyn (O Watkin 57), B Thomas, R Dyer; S Costelow (E James 40), E Bevan (R Williams 57); N Smith (K Mathias 71), D Lake (c, R Elias 60), A Griffin (K Assiratti 35), W Rowlands (T Reffell, 55), C Tshiunza, J Botham, J Morgan, T Plumtree (F Thomas 48)
South Africa: A Fassi; C Kolbe, J Kriel, D de Allende (H Pollard 51), K Arendse; Jo Hendrikse, Ja Hendrikse (C Reinach 61); T du Toit (G Steenekamp 46), J Grobbelaar (M Marx 46), W Louw ( V Koch 46), E Etzebeth (R Snyman 29), F Mostert, S Kolisi (c), E Louw (C Hanekom 42), J Wiese (M van Staden 61)
Referee: K Dickson (Eng)
Attendance: 67,236
07:50 PM GMT
Warren Gatland speaks to TNT Sports
“Our boys tried really hard out there. They gave it everything and that’s all I can ask for.
“They’re clinical, which is why they’re world champions and I can’t ask for more than that effort. With a young group of players, I think they’ll learn a massive amount, and hopefully there will be a step up when they next play at this level.
“It’s about seeing what the Union has to say [about my future]. Let’s see what happens over the next few days. They [the WRU] have been brilliant in terms of the plan we’ve put in place. I needed to see a shift from the players today and that’s what we were looking for. The score could have blown out but they didn’t stop trying.
“We need to be a little bit better conditioned, so we need to put a positive plan in place for the Six Nations. It’s been challenging, the last couple of weeks. I’m only human and getting a significant amount of negativity is tough. I’ve had a lot of people contact me and that’s meant a lot.”
“we’ve punched massively above our weight for some years but we said that when the dam burst, it would take some time. The dam has burst and conditioning has to be something we work on.”
07:45 PM GMT
Siya Kolisi on TNT Sports
“It’s been a really good tour. It’s not been perfect. The first two games, we weren’t happy. We felt against England, we were saved by individual moments – Eben’s charge-down, Cheslin’s try.
“[Tony Brown] has been really big for us. You have to learn new stuff. You have to be excited the whole time. The coach is trying to build depth so that when someone is injured, we don’t panic.”
07:41 PM GMT
Dewi Lake speaks to TNT Sports
“They’re double world champions for a reason, but I think we showed a lot of heart and character in parts of that game.
“We’re probably just not there yet as a group. Discipline in some areas has cost us again – they’re a dangerous team when theu’re rolling onto the ball.
“I can’t question the effort. I can’t question the effort. Of course we can [see light at the end of the tunnel]. We’ve got to keep the faith. The journey is just as important as the destination, sometimes.”
07:34 PM GMT
More sense bombs from Sam Warburton
“At this level, you never, ever throw in the towel and Wales didn’t. They lost to a team that is 30 points better than them, with players that are elite for their generation.”
07:33 PM GMT
Franco Mostert speaks to TNT Sports
“We knew Wales had their backs against the wall and, for a team like that, it brings out the best in them. Coach Rassie said at the start of the week that we are just here to get better and play as a team. We thought our performance against England was a little bit individual.”
07:31 PM GMT
Brutal statistics from Mr Petty
After 60 mins:
WAL 1 clean break, SA 13
WAL 5 defenders beaten, SA 43— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) November 23, 2024
07:29 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
It’s probably apt that Warren Gatland is sitting in front of a huge “Go Compare” seeing as so many in Wales are insisting he should be sacked without saying who would be any better as a replacement.
There is just over two months before Wales play in Paris on the opening evening of the Six Nations, so there is no time to replace him with anyone of his stature. And it will cost the WRU and they have huge financial problems.
It is not a feasible argument on so many levels. This defeat could have been a lot worse. At the very least, Gatland’s inexperienced side displayed commendable guts.
07:28 PM GMT
TRY, WALES!
The hosts land a consolation and it’s James Botham, who has been immensely industrious and determined.
Ben Thomas converts and that will be that. South Africa win it 45-12.
07:27 PM GMT
79 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 45
Wales are punching away here. Freddie Thomas and then Morgan go close…
07:27 PM GMT
78 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 45
Franco Mostert is named man of the match. He started things off with a slicing angle to score and has been generally irresponsible all over the pitch. Some player.
07:24 PM GMT
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA
Jordan Hendrikse deserves that. He’s over for South Africa’s seventh try, making the most of Reinach’s speed around the fringes. There was a nice carry from Pollard, with an offload off the floor to Marco van Staden, a couple of phases beforehand.
Hendrikse converts his own try by swerving the ball between the posts.
07:23 PM GMT
74 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Can the Springboks finish with a flourish? They’ve gone wide off a line-out and are cycling through the phase…
07:22 PM GMT
73 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Brave and busy defence from Jordan Hendrikse. He burrows in to win a penalty.
07:21 PM GMT
72 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Jac Morgan stops Snyman, Tommy Reffell threatens the ball and South Africa are penalised for coming in at the side. Wales have the penalty, and kick it to the opposition 22.
07:19 PM GMT
72 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Kemsley Mathias is introduced for Wales as Jac Morgan carries in midfield. He has not stopped grafting.
07:19 PM GMT
70 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Ten minutes left and Wales have the ball around halfway, with Ben Thomas chipping across the field…
…South Africa gather, though, and Fassi has a run before chipping ahead.
07:17 PM GMT
68 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Twelve minutes left as Wales cough up a line-out. They’ll have to face another scrum put-in.
07:15 PM GMT
67 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Another scrum penalty to South Africa, their sixth of the game, and Karl Dickson is losing patience. He has a stern word of warning with Jac Morgan.
07:14 PM GMT
66 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Wales spill in the South Africa 22. It’ll be a put-in to South Africa.
07:12 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
This is when Wales could be their most vulnerable. They have had to make so many tackles and dig so deep that there might be nothing left in reserve, just like last Sunday against Australia. Whoever in the WRU agreed for a six-day turnaround between the Wallabies and the world champions needs a stern word. Mindless.
07:11 PM GMT
64 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Vincent Koch flops into a breakdown and coughs up a penalty.
07:11 PM GMT
62 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 38
Dizzying tackle counts here. Jac Morgan has made 26, James Botham 20.
07:09 PM GMT
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA!
Merciless stuff from the Springboks heavies and Gerhard Steenekamp is the scorer.
07:08 PM GMT
60 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 31
Cobus Reinach and Marco van Staden on, Jaden Hendrikse and Jasper Wiese off.
07:07 PM GMT
59 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 31
Wales stand up to some fearful carrying, but they creep offside.
A couple more changes. Handre Pollard comes on for South Africa, replacing De Allende, and Ryan Elias is on for Lake.
Meanwhile, South Africa called for a scrum from a penalty five metres out… and they’ve won another penalty. And they’re doing the same again.
07:04 PM GMT
58 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 31
Scrum penalty to South Africa, Jordan Hendrikse kicks into the Wales 22…
07:04 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
Gatland will no doubt be criticised for hauling off Archie Griffin before half-time, after the young Bath tighthead was ripped apart by Thomas du Toit. His confidence will be crushed, they will say. But we should remember Adam Jones, who was almost always replaced on the half hour by Steve Hansen in the early Noughties. And Bomb turned out ok. Warren’s Whippersnappers are learning on the job here and the education happens to be brutal.
07:03 PM GMT
56 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 31
Rhodri Williams and Owen Watkin on for Wales. Ellis Bevan and Max Llewellyn make way.
Tshiunza is back at lock now, by the way.
07:01 PM GMT
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA!
Another very neat score. South Africa hit the short side, with Jaden Hendrikse finding Arendse behind an angle from Kolisi. There’s a wicked dummy and a break before Arendse releases Fassi. The conversion fades to the right.
Tommy Reffell is on for Wales, replacing Will Rowlands.
06:59 PM GMT
53 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Wales hold firm again, Wiese coughing it up in the tackle and Murray kicking long. Good tackle from Hathaway on Fassi on the chase.
06:58 PM GMT
52 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
There’s a first glimpse of Hanekom on the carry as he wriggles through a couple of tackles. Wiese takes it on and now Kolbe has a dart.
06:57 PM GMT
50 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
There’s a line-out gaffe and the Springboks escape.
06:56 PM GMT
49 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Direct, precise stuff off the line-out from Wales, with Eddie James punching a hole. There’s a tackle off the ball from Mostert and it’s another penalty.
06:55 PM GMT
49 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Half an hour remaining as the cameras pan to Gatland in the stands. Wales are deep in the visitors’ 22…
06:54 PM GMT
48 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Kolbe is picking up more and more touches, which is as exciting as you would expect.
That’s a bit ragged from South Africa, though, and Wales have a penalty. They’ll go to the corner through Ben Thomas.
06:53 PM GMT
47 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Thwacking tackle from Kriel on Blair Murray in the back-field, but the latter keeps the ball.
06:52 PM GMT
46 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Freddie Thomas joins us for a Wales debut. Taine Plumtree heads off. Presumably Christ Tshiunza will move into the back row.
06:51 PM GMT
45 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Snyman offloads to Malcolm Marx, one of the new arrivals, and Arendse darts up the middle. South Africa into the Wales 22… but Botham jackals.
06:49 PM GMT
44 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
Eddie James came on for Costelow by the way, and Hanekom replaced Elrigh Louw.
Scrum penalty to South Africa. Karl Dickson explains that one of the Wales props has overextended.
And just like that, the Springboks bring on a new front row.
06:47 PM GMT
43 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
A little wobble from the Springboks. Snyman nicks a line-out but De Allende spills a pass from Kolisi.
06:47 PM GMT
42 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
More defiance from Wales after De Allende storms through about six tackles. Nicky Smith and Taine Plumtree manhandle Snyman and the ball pops out.
06:46 PM GMT
41 minutes: Wales 5 South Africa 26
South Africa stream forward from the restart following a carry from Wiese. Nice link-up between Jaden Hendrikse and Fassi. Wales recover well, though.
Cameron Hanekom is with us from the bench.
06:44 PM GMT
Players back out
It’s damage limitation here for Wales, clearly. Eddie James is on again. Not sure who for at this stage.
06:41 PM GMT
Match action
Here’s Rio Dyer’s finish. He’s quick.
06:39 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
In Wales’s infamous 96-13 defeat in Pretoria 26 years ago, South Africa led 31-6 at the break, so at 26-5 this time around at least it is an improvement on that. Warren Gatland’s men scored a try in the dying seconds of the first half through Rio Dyer, which allowed the Principality Stadium to rise to its feet. But, in truth, this was as bad as was feared. It could be a long, long second half for the home fans.
06:33 PM GMT
Half-time thoughts
In a sense, it has been an impressive response from Wales. They have soaked up fearful punishment and their tackle numbers are through the roof. Jac Morgan has completed 16, Dewi Lake 12 and Christ Tshiunza have registered 12 and three more players are in double figures.
South Africa have scored some lovely tries depsite those efforts, but it has taken guts for the hosts to have the last say. The worry is that their graft in the first 40 minutes could take its toll later on.
06:29 PM GMT
TRY, WALES!
Searing pace from Rio Dyer and Wales are over. After the ball is moved away from the tight exchanges, with Wales earning another penalty advantage, the left wing stands up Jordan Hendrikse and gets over close to the right touchline.
Costelow cannot convert but that is a heartening finish to the first half for the hosts.
06:27 PM GMT
39 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 26
Jac Morgan barrels away from a maul, Botham goes close…
06:26 PM GMT
37 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 26
Another couple of penalties for Wales. They’re pressing hard here.
After that latest Springboks try, Griffin was replaced by Keiron Assiratti. The hope will be that the latter can stall South Africa’s scrum surge somewhat.
06:24 PM GMT
35 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 26
Cardiff roars as Lake forces a breakdown penalty and Wales go to the corner.
06:22 PM GMT
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA!
Oh wow. South Africa bulldoze the ensuing scrum to win a penalty. Jasper Wiese taps and Elrigh Louw picks and goes to score. The conversion is an easy one.
06:22 PM GMT
32 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Chalked off. Wales escape. That was a lovely, flowing team attack that featured plenty of gorgeous touches including a trademark Snyman offload. A Jaden Hendrikse knock-on is picked up, though.
06:19 PM GMT
31 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
We’re checking a very nice try for South Africa, finished by Siya Kolisi.
06:18 PM GMT
31 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Hathaway is pinged for tackling Fassi while the latter is in the air. Wales have pushed the envelope there, and they’re tip-toeing over the line.
06:16 PM GMT
30 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Half an hour gone as Ellis Bevamn clears into touch. It’s been gutsy from Wales, this.
06:14 PM GMT
29 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Etzebeth comes off gingerly. That’s a concern.
RG Snyman replaces him. Decent depth there for South Africa.
06:14 PM GMT
28 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
So close to another try, which would have been very sweet. Jaden Hendrikse hooks a chip over the top and his brother, Jordan, chases. He’s over if he collects, but cannot quite control it.
06:13 PM GMT
27 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Stunning defence from Wales. De Allende lifts a chip across to Arendse, who deflects the ball back inside. Fassi collects a metre out but Blair Murray holds it up with the help of Hathaway.
06:12 PM GMT
26 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
More clever stuff from the Springboks. They go over the top of a line-out to Jasper Wiese before bonuncing blind, with Kolbe offloading to Grobbelaar again. They’re now pounding away in the Wales 22.
06:11 PM GMT
25 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
My fault. I was just thinking how Nicky Smith could be a British and Irish Lions contender. And then South Africa obliterated the Wales scrum.
06:10 PM GMT
Match action
Slick finish from Arendse for number three.
06:09 PM GMT
23 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Decent little spell for Wales, with Hathway and Lake picking up touches. South Africa spill a high ball and we’ll have another Wales put-in.
06:08 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
For those watching in black and white, Wales are the team without the ball.
If you are wondering why Wales are not playing in red, it is not the cash-strapped Welsh Rugby Union trying to flog their white shirts, but because from next year, there is a World Rugby mandate to avoid a kit clash that could impact those viewers suffering from colour vision deficiency.
Apparently, the clash of red and green is most problematic and Wales’ previous black alternate jersey also collides with green. So Wales will also be wearing white against Ireland in the Six Nations.
06:06 PM GMT
22 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Respite for Wales. Lake clatters Louw to force a knock-on.
06:06 PM GMT
21 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 19
Wales are bleeding penalties at an alarming rate. Fortunately for them, Jordan Hendrikse misses touch and Balir Murray can clear.
06:04 PM GMT
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA!
Wales stop the maul initally but the Springboks release the backs, Kolbe arcing around De Allende to take a pull-back. He feeds Fassi, who links with Arendse and a step back inside is enough to beat two scrambling defenders. Lovely conversion from Jordan Hendrikse.
Costelow is back with us, too.
06:02 PM GMT
18 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
South Africa in the corner again. They’ll be mauling.
06:01 PM GMT
16 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Oh there comes Kolbe, fizzing off the shoulder of Jaden Hendrikse and piercing the 22 before offloading to Johan Grobbelaar. Another penalty to South Africa. Max LLewellyn tackles Fassi without the ball.
06:00 PM GMT
15 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Really impressive defence from Wales. Nicky Smith chops down Etzebeth and then Botham and Morgan soak up Siya Kolisi and hold him up over the try-line. They have the goal-line drop-out.
05:58 PM GMT
14 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Tough stuff from Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin there. They hold firm and we’ll have a re-set.
05:57 PM GMT
14 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Wales make the line-out scrappy but there’s a knock-on so we will have out first scrum.
05:56 PM GMT
Match action
Here’s the Etzebeth try. Really sharp stuff from the Springboks.
05:55 PM GMT
13 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Robust maul defence from Wales, but it’s illegal. South Africa are within five metres.
05:54 PM GMT
12 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Eddie James is the man who has come on for Costelow. Ben Thomas has moved to fly-half.
Another penalty for South Africa, Taine Plumtree collared for getting himself on the wrong side of the breakdown. The Springboks go to the maul this time…
05:53 PM GMT
10 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 12
Costelow has had to come off to undergo a head injury assessment. He looks pretty non-plussed. Karl Dickson explains that there has been an alert on his smart gum-shield, I think.
Meanwhile, South Africa are attacking from a line-out on the edge of the Wales 22.
05:51 PM GMT
TRY, South Africa!
Two tries, two locks. Costelow was safe under that high ball, but South Africa’s forwards simply marched over the breakdown. They capitalised on the turnover beautifully, Damian de Allende and Eben Etzebeth feeding Arendse and Etzebeth following up to take an inside pass.
Dare I say it, that’ ruthless finishing is a sign of how South Africa are improving… from a pretty high base. The conversion is missed.
05:49 PM GMT
7 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 7
Costelow is brave under a high ball with Fassi chasing…
05:48 PM GMT
TRY, South Africa!
After a promising start, that’s all too easy. It all begins from Kurt-Lee Arendse take, South Africa make around 50 metres by spreading it across to the other flank and Mostert carves a sweet angle against the grain to go straight through.
Jordan Hendrikse splits the posts with the conversion and the Springboks are off and running.
05:47 PM GMT
5 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 0
A first run for Kolbe after South Africa spread the ball from left to right…
05:46 PM GMT
4 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 0
The Springboks are inside the Wales 22 and looking dangerous… Wilco Louw rumbles into the shadow of the posts but James Botham pounces for a turnover.
05:45 PM GMT
3 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 0
Jaden Hendrikse hoists a box-kick and Costelow does well to haul it in under pressure.
After a bit of kick-tennis, Fassi goes across the pitch with a clever dink to Jesse Kriel. Kriel collects and looks to grubber ahead but Costelow blocks it.
We’re coming all the way back for a penalty. Rio Dyer tackled Jordan Hendrikse in the air.
05:43 PM GMT
2 minutes: Wales 0 South Africa 0
Strong carries from Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake from the line-out before there is a half-break from Sam Costelow.
Wales then go to the air but Jordan Hendrikse gathers.
05:42 PM GMT
1 minute: Wales 0 South Africa 0
Wales, wearing their alternate kit white shirts and green shorts, get us underway through Ben Thomas.
It’s a high kick straight down the middle that is taken by Aphelele Fassi. Josh Hathaway tackles him and Jordan Hendrikse kicks to touch.
05:40 PM GMT
Here we go
Emotion all over the face of Dewi Lake, there, during a stirring rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
Here we go.
05:33 PM GMT
Players out
Anthems next, but first a moment of silence for the figures of Welsh rugby that have died over the past year.
05:32 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
On the way in I heard a man tell his son that he should not get too excited as Wales are 25-1 to win.
‘What does that mean, Dad?’ The child asked.
‘It means,’ the man replied, ‘if you put £5 on Wales to win… you get nothing back.’
Fair to say, hope does abound here at the stadium.
05:31 PM GMT
Warren Gatland during the warm-ups
A pensive pose, if ever there was one.
05:30 PM GMT
Rassie Erasmus speaks to TNT Sports
“They’ll be desperate and what better than a win over us to get their confidence up.”
No complacency here from the Springboks, as one would expect.
05:29 PM GMT
Fans of the Springboks
South Africa’s travelling support is truly exceptional in Europe. Just as they were at Murrayfield and at Twickenham, the Springboks will be backed by an impressive contingent.
05:26 PM GMT
Sam Warburton on TNT Sports
Interesting stuff from the former captan, as ever, on the mood in Wales.
“It actually feels a bit more relaxed. I think there’s been a realisation that we’re better off, rather than throwing knives and criticising, let’s support this team. Some of them are relatively new to the international game. There’s more of an acceptance of where we are. What I’d tell the players is that 60,000 people haven’t turned up today to criticise, they’ve come to support.”
05:21 PM GMT
Coin toss
Looks like Wales has won the coin-toss, which is a good start. The referee is Karl Dickson.
05:11 PM GMT
James Corrigan at the ground
There will be many people here glad to see Nicky Smith in for the ill Gareth Thomas, because the loosehead has been going great guns in the Premiership with Leicester. But Kemsley Mathias comes in on the bench and the inexperienced Scarlet against the Bomb Squad might not be a comfortable experience.
05:09 PM GMT
Bad omen for Wales?
A rather worrying aspect of the build-up for Wales is that South Africa have stressed on several occasions that they have not been entirely happy with their performances against Scotland and England on this tour. One suspects that they will be eager to put an exclamation mark on their year tonight.
About half an hour until kick-off now.
05:06 PM GMT
Cardiff on match-days
Cool footage here from the Springboks coach.
05:02 PM GMT
Full line-ups
Those tweaks, as well as a reshuffle from South Africa earlier this week, means the line-ups are like this.
Wales: Blair Murray, Josh Hathaway, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Ellis Bevan; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (captain), Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Eddie James, Owen Watkin
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi; Cheslin Kolbe,Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (captain), Elrigh Louw, Jasper Wiese
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard
04:56 PM GMT
Late changes for Wales
Two players have withdrawn from Warren Gatland’s line-up, we hear. Wing Tom Rogers and loosehead prop Gareth Thomas are both out. Josh Hathaway and Nicky Smith will start, with Owen Watkin and Kemsley Mathias coming onto the bench.
04:46 PM GMT
Players in the building
04:45 PM GMT
Scores elsewhere
You will have caught up with France’s win over Argentina last night, I’m sure. It is looking like Ireland will stave off Fiji rather comfortably as well.
A shout-out for the USA, who ousted Spain 26-23 today. That complemented victories over Portugal and Tonga earlier this month.
04:40 PM GMT
Hour until kick-off
The roof will be closed this evening, by the way. Just as well. It’s been wet in Cardiff and around the United Kingdom.
04:39 PM GMT
Thumbs up
Erasmus cut a cheerful figure at the captains’ runs yesterday.
Earlier this week, he told critics to lay off Gatland.
04:30 PM GMT
Good evening
Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of this meeting between Wales and the Springboks in Cardiff. Ben Coles and James Corrigan are at the Principality Stadium for us, and I am going to be delivering updates throughout this evening.
It’s a pretty daunting occasion for the hosts, to put it mildly. They were thrashed 52-20 by Australia six days ago, shipping eight tries to the Wallabies on the way to an 11th Test defeat in succession. And now the back-to-back world champions are in town.
Warren Gatland seemed like a broken man on Sunday as he faced the media, but there has been a hint of defiance about the Wales camp this week.
Rob Howley has been particularly punchy, stressing that Gatland remains “the best coach in the world” and that his long-time ally has a proud legacy of almost 13 years in the game.
“At the moment, we are in this spell where we are losing and losing and losing,” Howley said. “But we know at some point we will win and I hope it will be on Saturday.”
Well, that feels rather unlikely for a team yet to taste any success in 2024. South Africa backed up last year’s World Cup triumph by winning the Rugby Championship in some style and are on a roll.
Rassie Ersamus has spent this year developing squad depth as Tony Brown, his new attack coach, expands horizons on the tactical front. They have been seriously impressive, and are 26-point favourites with the bookies for this one.
Reflecting on the last meeting between the teams will not hearten Wales supporters either. That was a World Cup warm-up fixture back in August. Siya Kolisi returned from a knee injury in style and the Springboks thrashed Wales 52-16.
A similar scoreline this afternoon would be no surprise whatsoever. In all honesty, there is a distinct possibility that it ends up more gruesome than that.