Wales will look to avoid the ignominy of a winless 2024 as they face reigning double world champions South Africa in Cardiff as huge underdogs this afternoon.
Warren Gatland’s side look completely bereft of confidence and belief as their losing streak has reached a record-breaking 11 games and they are massive outsiders at 20-1 with bookmakers, despite being on home soil, to stun a fearsome Springboks side at the Principality Stadium.
Gatland has looked like something of a broken man at points over the last year and questions about his job security have hugely increased following the historically bad past 12 months, with a real chance that he may leave before the Six Nations begins in February.
A young, inexperienced Welsh team will hope to give a good account of themselves in their Autumn Nations Series finale but even a Springboks side that Rassie Erasmus has made a handful of changes to should have far too much for their hosts after already beating England and Scotland this autumn to follow up their summer Rugby Championship success.
Follow all the action from Cardiff in our live blog below:
TRY! WALES 5-26 South Africa (Rio Dyer, 40 minutes)
Life for Wales just before the interval!
Sheer sprinting speed from the recalled Rio Dyer! It looks as if Wales have run aground when after a fair bit of forward huffing and puffing, Ben Thomas is caught a long way behind the gainline. But a wild fling out to the right is gathered by Dyer, who fancies testing his pace against Jordan Hendrikse. He’s right to, putting on the afterburners to leave the South Africa fly half trailing in his wake on his way into the right corner. How Wales needed that!
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:27
Wales 0-26 South Africa, 39 minutes
Three whistles on the spin against the Springboks as their aerial efforts at the lineout are deemed illegal. Lake opts to throw again…and hits banker ball at the front. Into another shove Wales launch with a few backs lending their weight.
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:26
Wales 0-26 South Africa, 38 minutes
South Africa infringe again. “Take the three!” a few supporters cry, fearing a nilling; Dewi Lake ignores them and chooses to give himself another five-metre lineout to throw.
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:25
Wales 0-26 South Africa, 36 minutes
That might be it for Archie Griffin’s afternoon. The tighthead is replaced by Keiron Assiratti.
Wales win a penalty from the restart, and kick to the corner. Can they break tehir duck before half time?
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:23
TRY! Wales 0-26 SOUTH AFRICA (Elrigh Louw, 35 minutes)
Classic Springboks. Their scrum simply pulverises their outmatched Welsh counterparts, driving them back over the ball and virtually into the River Taff. Jasper Wiese taps the inevitable penalty as quickly as possible and back row chum Elrigh Louw burrows through the remaining metre to score.
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:22
NO TRY! Wales 0-19 South Africa, 33 minutes
No try! Jaden Hendrikse’s fingers were caught in a jumble as Wales tried to disrupt breakdown ball, and the officials conclude quickly that the scrum half knocked it on.
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:20
Try? Has Siya Kolisi scored South Africa’s fourth!
A vibrant, violent passage involving forwards and backs ends with the Springboks skipper crashing over – but was there a knock-on or forward pass in the build-up?
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:19
Wales 0-19 South Africa, 31 minutes
Problems in the Hendrikse household as Jaden’s slightly off-line pass is fumbled by brother Jordan, the fly half perhaps guilty of trying to put some footwork on before he had safely secured possession.
Wales just can’t get out of their own way at the moment. Josh Hathaway is a second Welshman pinged for a tackle in the air and Dewi Lake is called over for a chat by referee Karl Dickson. Consider the captain warned about his team’s discipline.
Harry Latham-Coyle23 November 2024 18:18