The Springboks will look to break their Cardiff curse when they kick off their end-of-year tour against Wales on Saturday 19h30 at the Principality Stadium. However, as history has proven it will be a physical, hard-fought and very close battle with the winner only determined in the final minutes of this test.
The Principality Stadium has been anything but a happy hunting ground for the Springboks in recent times. The Springboks have lost their last four fixtures at the Principality Stadium, with their last win in 2013 with 24-15.
The Springboks won a nail-biting 19-16 win in the 2019 World Cup semi-final showdown in Yokohama, snapping a four-match losing streak against Wales.
Wales are tactically equipped to counteract the Springboks' territory-based approach and their pack have stood up well to the renowned physicality of the Springboks.
Under new head coach, Wayne Pivac, Wales have developed a potent backline to add to their more than a competitive pack of forwards. An unrivalled 20 tries saw them claiming the 2021 Six Nations championship.
Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit are among the fastest and most predatory wings in the world and will ask plenty of questions of South Africa’s defence.
The Springboks will be vulnerable without wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Sbu Nkosi. Midfielder Jesse Kriel, a curious choice to start in the No.14 jersey in the absence could struggle to contain Adams if the hosts are able to create a bit of space out wide.
Pivac has made six changes to the Welsh starting XV that lost 16-54 against New Zealand last weekend. The experienced Jonathan Davies taking over the captaincy from the injured Alun Wyn Jones, and Dan Biggar returns at flyhalf.
Loosehead prop Rhys Carré comes into the front row alongside hooker Ryan Elias and tighthead prop Tomas Francis, with Wyn Jones moving to the replacements bench.
Dragons lock Will Rowlands links up with Ospreys lock Adam Beard in the second row to win his 12th international cap.
Cardiff Rugby’s Ellis Jenkins comes in for Moriarty in the back row, making his long-awaited return to international rugby after suffering a knee injury against South Africa three years ago. Dragons pair Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright retain their places in the loose trio.
Tomos Williams remains at scrumhalf while the experienced Biggar, making his 93rd international appearance, returns to the starting line-up after touring with the British & Irish Lions.
Saracens centre Nick Tompkins partners up in midfield with Davies, with Louis Rees-Zammit linking up in the back three with fellow winger Josh Adams and fullback Johnny McNicholl.
The replacements include two debutants - hooker Bradley Roberts, who was born in South Africa, and tighthead prop WillGriff John - while fullback Liam Williams has made a return to fitness, after undergoing an appendectomy, and will take part in his first game of rugby since the last British & Irish Lions Test, against South Africa, back in August.
“South Africa coming to town, as World Champions, offers a different challenge to New Zealand," said Pivac.
"They’ve got a massive forward pack, they’re big across the park really, and they bring a huge aerial threat so it’s going to be a different challenge.
“It’s a big test match and we need to get what we think is the best side out there. We’re looking forward to having this side out there on the weekend and it’ll be really interesting to see how we go.
“There’s a lot of experience gone from the pack now and with what’s coming in terms of the South African pack, with their experience, it’s going to be a massive challenge for our boys and it’ll be interesting to see who steps up.
“Field position in this game is going to be massive, with the scrum that’s coming and line out drive, so we have to make sure we’re smart in how we play the game.
Going from the Lions series straight into the Rugby Championship took its toll on the Springboks and the few weeks they had to recuperate after the Southern Hemisphere showpiece would’ve done them wonders.
The 31-29 win over the All Blacks in the tournament finale would’ve been a massive confidence booster, an affirmation that their game plan and structures are still all-conquering if executed correctly.
Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel and Herschel Jantjies will start on Saturday as Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber made four changes.
Willemse comes in for Willie le Roux in a rotational switch, and Jantjies takes over from Faf de Klerk who was ruled out of the squad due to a hip flexor injury.
Kriel replaces Sbu Nkosi, who is yet to travel to the UK as he awaits the necessary paperwork.
Jantjies’ promotion to the starting line-up sees Cobus Reinach being drafted onto the replacements bench in the only change among the reserves.
“We selected this squad with an eye on maintaining consistency in selection from the Castle Lager Rugby Championship, but at the same time giving players who have been knocking on the door for a while now an opportunity to play,” said Nienaber.
“Damian and Herschel have featured off the bench a fair bit and this is a fantastic opportunity to give them a chance to start as we look to build our squad depth with an eye on the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“Jesse has also been training hard; he is very experienced and he brings the physicality that will be necessary against Wales.
“We know what we have in Willie and Faf, and it is important to give Damian and Herschel game time to develop and measure themselves in starting roles.
“Wales are a quality outfit, and this will present an exciting opportunity for all of these players to make their mark in what is a very important Test to set the tone for this tour, and also in the lead-up to the Rugby World Cup.”
Nienaber expected Wales to pose a big threat, especially as the Six Nations champions will be playing with a near full-strength squad and given the fact that the Boks have not won in Cardiff since 2013.
“Wales are a tough side to beat and our track record over here in the last few years is evidence of that,” said Nienaber.
“We also edged them in the Rugby World Cup semi-final, so we know that this is going to be a hard grind of a Test.
“They may have lost against the All Blacks last week (54-16) but this result was in the absence of a number of key players, so this week will be a completely different proposition.
“They have a formidable pack of forwards and some equally experienced and high-calibre backline players, several of whom played for the British & Irish Lions, and to add to this they will play in cool and possibly wet conditions that they are well suited to, so we know what we are in for.
“That said, we had a good training camp in France last week and some of the overseas-based players were in action for their clubs, so the players are back in the swing of things focused and excited to get back on the field.”
Wales: 15. Johnny McNicholl, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Jonathan Davies (c), 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Tomos Williams, 8. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Taine Basham, 6. Ellis Jenkins, 5. Adam Beard, 4. Will Rowlands, 3. Tomas Francis, 2. Ryan Elias, 1. Rhys Carré. Replacements: 1. Bradley Roberts, 17. Wyn Jones, 18. WillGriff John, 19. Ben Carter, 20. Seb Davies, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Liam Williams.
Springboks: 15. Damian Willemse, 14. Jesse Kriel, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Herschel Jantjies, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Kwagga Smith, 6. Siya Kolisi (c), 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Eben Etzebeth, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Ox Nché. Replacements: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Steven Kitshoff, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Franco Mostert, 20. Jasper Wiese, 21. Cobus Reinach, 22. Elton Jantjies, 23. Frans Steyn.