Match Facts

South Africa have won six of their last seven Tests against Wales (L1) after losing four in a row against them previously – the Springboks have won each of their last three games against Wales by margins of 16+ points after each of their previous seven clashes had been decided by fewer than 10.

Wales have lost each of their last 11 Test matches, their longest ever run in men’s rugby, overtaking a 10-game stretch between November 2002 and August 2003 – their most recent loss came by 32 points (20-52 v Australia), their heaviest defeat since a 36-point loss at home to South Africa in August last year (16-52).

Wales have won just one of their last 11 Test matches at the Principality Stadium and have lost all four of their home games against Southern Hemisphere sides during that time, since a 20-13 victory against Argentina in November 2022.

South Africa have won 14 of their last 16 Test matches (L2), including each of their last three, with their only two defeats during that period both having come by a single point – each of the Springboks’ last 13 games have been won by the side that lead at half-time.

South Africa have won 10 of their last 11 Tests against European nations in Europe (L1), including each of their last five in a row, however, two of those five wins have come by a single point, with the Springboks also trailing at half-time on both occasions.

South Africa have both the highest dominant carry (38.9%) and dominant tackle (10.5%) rates of any nation in men’s Tier 1 rugby this year, while Wales have the lowest dominant tackle rate of any such side in 2024 (5.5%).

South Africa have retained possession from 71 of their 312 kicks in play this year, with their 23% retention rate being at least seven percentage points higher than any other men’s Tier 1 team in 2024, while Wales have successfully executed the most 50/22 kicks of any such side (4).

Tommy Reffell has won 12 turnovers in 598 minutes for Wales in 2024, an average of one every 50 minutes, the best rate of any player to have featured for 240+ minutes for a men’s Tier 1 nation this year.

RG Snyman has completed 14 offloads in just 302 minutes for South Africa this year, an average of 3.7 per 80 minutes, the best rate of any of any player for a Tier 1 nation this year (min. 160 minutes played), with Damian Penaud the closest player on 2.2 offloads per 80 minutes.

Jesse Kriel has made 13 line breaks for South Africa in 2024, the joint most of any player for a men's Tier 1 nation this year alongside fellow Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse and New Zealand duo Mark Tele’a and Sevu Reece; in fact, no other centre has made more than 10 line breaks this year.