OFFICIALS
Today's referee is Luke Pearce of England. This will be his 19th Test as a referee and the first one with the Springboks involved.
The assistant referees are Englishmen Wayne Barnes and Karl Dickson, while Irishman Simon McDowell is the television match official (TMO).
The Springbok team for tomorrow's Test in Cardiff against Wales.
— South African Rugby (@Springboks) November 23, 2018
Best of luck boys!#boksontour#CastleLagerOutgoingTour#LoveRugby #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/MXANdMVaT9
QUOTES
Wales coach Warren Gatland:
"They (South Africa) have reclaimed some of their old identity and what they're about. Physicality and a strong scrum, a driving lineout and strong ball-carriers. That's why you always respect them for what they are. They have gone back to being tough and physical and have subtleties in the way they play."
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus:
"We know how tough it is going to be. We have not beaten them in the last three games, and they have won eight on the trot. Beating a team like that will give us more confidence. If we beat them on Saturday it will mean we have won five of our last seven games, and lost two by one point and two points."
BOK CAPS
The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 445.
There are 189 caps in the backline and 256 among the forwards, with a further 226 on the bench.
The average caps per player in the backline is 27, while the forwards average 32 while the players on the bench average 24.
The average age of the starting XV is 26.
Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff are the only two players who will have played in every Test match this season
THE STADIUM
The original ground where the Millennium Stadium is now situated, was known as Cardiff Arms Park, where Wales have played their first Test 134 years ago.
South Africa’s first Test against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park took place on December 14, 1912, when Billy Millar’s Springboks beat Wales 3-0 in front of 26 000 spectators.
The old stadium at the Arms Park was demolished in 1997 to make way for the Millennium Stadium, which hosted the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The first Test match at this new stadium was between Wales and South Africa on June 26, 1999, when the Springboks ended on the losing side 29-19. It was South Africa’s first loss against Wales since 1906 in ironically the 13th Test between the two countries.
Subsequently, the Springboks have won eight consecutive games at the stadium, but lost the following three with the last one in 2017 by a narrow margin of two points.
The seating capacity of the stadium is 74 500.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
South Africa’s overall record against Wales is: P: 34; W: 28; L: 5; D: 1; PF: 892; PA: 532; TF: 108; TA: 45; Average score: 26-16. Win%: 84%.
South Africa’s record against Wales in Cardiff: P: 18; W: 13; L: 4; D: 1; PF: 370; PA: 296; TF: 41; TA: 23; Average score: 21-16; Win%: 72%.
South Africa’s biggest win against Wales (83 points) was on June 27, 1998 at Loftus Versfeld, when the Springboks ran in 15 tries in a 96-13 triumph. On the day, Percy Montgomery scored 31 points with two tries, nine conversions and a penalty goal.
The Springboks’ biggest loss against Wales was on November 26, 2016 in Cardiff when South Africa lost 27-13.
TEAMS
Wales
15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Nicky Smith
Substitutes: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Owen Watkin
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 S’bu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Cheslin Kolbe
WELCOME!
LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on the Test between Wales and South Africa from Cardiff.
Welcome to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for our live coverage of this International match between Wales and South Africa.
The last time these teams met earlier this year, Wales defeated the Springboks 22-20 in a tight Washington DC encounter.
South Africa have not beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2013 and their new Coach Rassie Erasmus will be happy to have that poor statistic amended this afternoon.
Wales have made 13 changes to their team that defeated Tonga 74-24. The most significant changes includes the move of Liam Williams from wing to start at full-back in place of the injured Leigh Halfpenny and Gareth Anscombe taking up the fly-half position.
Team Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Nicky Smith. Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Owen Watkin.
South Africa have retained the same team that defeated Scotland at Murrayfield last week. It will be the first time this season that South Africa keep the same line-up.
Team South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Cheslin Kolbe.
Our referee is Luke Pearce and he will be assisted by Wayne Barnes and Karl Dickson. The TMO is Simon McDowell.