Wales vs South Africa date, start time & TV info
Date Saturday, November 29
Starts 3.10pm
Venue Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Competition Autumn International
TV TNT Sports 1
South Africa round off another impressive year with a visit to Cardiff and the Boks won’t go easy on Wales at the Principality.
The Welsh showed encouraging signs in a 52-26 defeat to New Zealand last weekend but the world champions, who beat Ireland 24-13 last Saturday, and are aiming to complete an unbeaten autumn campaign for the second year in succession.
Wales vs South Africa betting tips & predictions
Best bet
Wales +40
1pt Evs bet365, Hills
Wales vs South Africa preview
Another difficult year for Wales concludes with the toughest challenge of them all, a visit from world champions South Africa.
The Springboks have again demonstrated their remarkable strength depth, fielding 49 players in 2025, and they have rested a dozen for this match, including the new men’s World Player of the Year Malcolm Marx in the interest of managing minutes.
However, the matchday 23 have still amassed 898 caps between them and Rassie Erasmus has also opted for a seven-one split on the bench, with Cobus Reinach the only recognised back.
Reinach will win his 50th cap if he does enter the fray and he typifies the current Boks squad, who only seem to be improving.
While South Africa set the standard, Wales have won just two of their last 22 Tests, both victories coming against Japan.
Beating the Brave Blossoms 24-23 a fortnight ago means they are at least still in the top two seeded pots for next month’s World Cup draw and they had some good moments in last weekend’s 52-26 defeat to New Zealand.
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi was among the tryscorer’s in last year’s 45-12 win in CardiffCredit: Getty Images
Still, they haven’t beaten South Africa in Cardiff since 2018 and have lost by 36 and 33 points in the last couple of years.
The most recent of those in 2024 was a 45-12 win, in which the Boks led 26-0 and seemed to take mercy on their hosts, who were on their way to losing a 12th successive Test.
After already recording November wins over Japan, France, Italy and Ireland, another on Saturday would see South Africa complete their autumn campaign unbeaten for the second straight year.
Anything but a heavy away triumph looks unlikely, but while the Boks may burst out of the blocks again, Wales have improved this month and they are worth backing to finish within the 40-point mark set on the handicap.
Wales’s November Schedule
DateOpponentsVenue09/11/2025Argentina (L 52-28)Principality Stadium, Cardiff15/11/2025Japan (W 24-23)Principality Stadium, Cardiff22/11/2025New Zealand (L 52-26)Principality Stadium, CardiffSaturdaySouth AfricaPrincipality Stadium, CardiffScroll >>> table to view
Key stats for Wales vs South Africa
♦ Wales have won only two of their last 22 Tests
♦ South Africa have won by 36 and 33 points on their last two trips to Cardiff
♦ Of the Springboks’ 11 Tests wins in 2025, ten have been by 8+ points
♦ Visiting fly-half Sacha Feinberg–Mngomezulu has scored the game’s final try in his last two appearances
Wales vs South Africa team news and line-ups
Wales
Wales have made eight changes from the defeat to New Zealand. Those coming in include veteran number eight Aaron Wainwright, who has recovered from a hip issue.
Wales: 15 B Murray; 14 E Mee, 13 J Roberts, 12 J Hawkins, 11 R Dyer; 10 D Edwards, 9 K Hardy; 1 G Thomas, 2 D Lake (c), 3 K Assiratti, 4 B Carter, 5 R Davies, 6 T Plumtree, 7 A Mann, 8 A Wainwright.
Replacements: 16 B Coghlan, 17 D Southworth, 18 C Coleman, 19 J Ratti, 20 M Morse, 21 R Morgan-Williams, 22 C Sheedy, 23 B Thomas.
South Africa
South Africa announced earlier in the week that 12 players wouldn’t be considered for this game to help manage their fitness. Prop Gerhard Steenekamp makes his first Test start and there is a seven-one split on the bench. Scrum-half Cobus Reinach is the only specialist back and should win his 50th cap.
South Africa: 15 D Willemse; 14 E Hooker, 13 D De Allende, 12 A Esterhuizen, 11 C Moodie; 10 S Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 M Van den Berg; 1 G Steenekamp, 2 J Grobbelaar, 3 W Louw, 4 J Kleyn, 5 R Nortje, 6 S Kolisi (c), 7 F Mostert, 8 J Wiese.
Replacements: 16 B Mbonambi, 17 Z Porthen, 18 A Ntlabakanye, 19 E Etzebeth, 20 M Van Staden, 21 BJ Dixon, 22 K Smith, 23 C Reinach
Wales vs South Africa odds
Here are the latest odds for Saturday’s Cardiff showdown.
Match bettingOddsWales40-1South Africa1-500Draw80-1HandicapOddsWales +4011-10South Africa -4010-11Tie16-1
Odds correct at time of publishing
Want more top sports betting advice? Make sure you take a look at Racing Post Sport’s tips for more of the latest picks from our experts.
Read more sport predictions:
Gallagher Premiership: rugby union predictions, team news, betting tips and odds
UK Championship snooker predictions, betting tips and odds: Trump can reign supreme once again in York
Ben Whittaker vs Benjamin Gavazi predictions, odds and boxing betting tips
Qatar Grand Prix betting tips, odds and predictions: Norris can wrap up title in style
Wales vs South Africa FAQs
When is the autumn international between Wales vs South Africa?
The match kicks off at 3.10pm on Saturday, November 29
Where is Wales vs South Africa being played?
The match takes place at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff
What is the match betting for Wales vs South Africa?
Wales are 40-1 to cause an upset, with the Springboks the massive 1-500 favourites and a draw 80-1.
Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.
