South Africa are on tour as international rugby returns this weekend, kicking off a string of fixtures on Saturday by taking on Wales at Twickenham Stadium.
The back-to-back World Cup winners return to the Northern Hemisphere for the first time since their nerve-shredding, 12-11 triumph over New Zealand in Paris last October.
It’s their one shot – and a slightly off-kilter one at that – to prepare for two Tests back at home against Ireland next month.
Saturday starts bright and early elsewhere with the contest between Japan and England, while France and World Cup darlings Fiji are also in action.
International Rugby: South Africa vs Wales – kick off 15.00 SAST
South Africa’s Springboks meet Wales on Saturday, in their first outing since lifting the World Cup trophy eight months ago.
And they’re taking over a corner of south-west London packed with SA expats, with no pesky English present to spoil the party.
It’s the start of another World Cup cycle, with Rassie Erasmus back at the helm following the departure of long-time co-conspirator Jacques Nienaber to take over at Irish domestic giants Leinster.
Expectations are always sky high for the men in green and gold.
But it’s a different story for veteran coach Warren Gatland and his inexperienced Welsh side, who have also been rattled by injuries at the end of a long domestic season off the back of the 2023 World Cup in France.
The Springboks hand starting debuts to wing Edwill van der Merwe and Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf.
Stormers pair Ben-Jason Dixon and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, meanwhile, earn a place among the replacements for the first time in a particularly proud moment for the latter, whose father hails from the English capital.
At the other end of the scale there’s a 50th cap for Vincent Koch in the front row, in a Boks side that will be captained by Pieter-Steph du Toit.
All the talk is about potential for Gatland and his coaching team, who hand the captaincy to hooker Dewi Lake.
Jac Morgan is ruled out with a hamstring injury, although Liam Williams ensures vital experience from the right wing, while Eddie James, Jacob Beetham and late call-up James Ratti will all make their debuts if called upon from the replacements bench.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Damian de Allende.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Owen Watkin, 12 Mason Grady, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Ellis Bevan, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 James Botham, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Matthew Screech, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Evan Lloyd, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 James Ratti, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Eddie James, 23 Jacob Beetham.
| Team | Win % | Predicted Score |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 93 | 41 |
| Wales | 7 | 18 |