South Africa polish off their Northern Hemisphere tour in an international with a difference against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
It’s a fixture rather crowbarred on to the end of the official window for the Autumn rugby international series in Europe, something that’ll be reflected in a bundle of changes for both teams.
That means Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus will have the chemistry set out once again, as he takes the opportunity to experiment with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon.
International Rugby: Wales vs South Africa – kick off 17.10 SAST
One more then home for South Africa this weekend, as the Springboks round off their end-of-year tour up north against Wales at the Principality Stadium.
They do so after the mass dispersal of many of their star players, a good deal of whom have jetted back to their domestic sides in Japan following the end of the official international rugby window.
It’s an opportunity, then, for some lesser-spotted internationals and the next generation to make their case to be in the thoughts of coach Rassie Erasmus on the long road to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks have enjoyed a winning time of it across Europe throughout November, stringing together a quartet of victories.
That’s made it the ideal follow up to their Rugby Championship success for the second year running over Southern Hemisphere rivals New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
Ireland was the final frontier for Erasmus and he finally managed a win in the country where he once coached last weekend, as the Boks had to battle to come through 24-13 despite a rash of cards for the home nation in Dublin.
It followed a brace of victories on the European continent as first France were seen off in Paris, before a game Italy performance wasn’t enough to prevent a 32-14 victory for the back-to-back World Cup champions.
The tour even began a week before the international window, as the Bok second string demolished Japan 61-7 at Wembley Stadium in London.
Wales have not had nearly as successful a time of it but they did at least manage to beat the Japanese as well, as a last-gasp penalty burgled a 24-23 win for new coach Steve Tandy.
Results either side weren’t so pretty, as the Welsh shipped a half-century of points on both occasions.
Argentina opened up with a 52-28 win in Cardiff before New Zealand repeated the dose a week ago, with the All Blacks coming through 52-26 against their callow opponents.
And they’ll have to brace themselves to go the distance again, as Erasmus goes for a seven-one bench split that will see pretty well an entirely fresh pack introduced in Cardiff.
World Cup winners Eben Etzebeth and Bongi Mbonambi are among those lying in wait, while Cobus Reinach will celebrate his 50th international cap from kick off.
Short on numbers both nations may be, but Wales do at least have the relative luxury of being able to recall talisman Aaron Wainwright, as the eighth man makes a welcome return from injury.
Ben Carter and Rhys Davies both play internationally for the first time this season, while there will be a debut off the bench for prop Danny Southworth.
Wales Starting XV: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Ellis Mee, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Rhys Davies, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Danny Southworth, 18 Christian Coleman, 19 James Ratti, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Ben Thomas.
South Africa Starting XV: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Zachary Porthen, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Kwagga Smith, 23 Cobus Reinach.
South Africa vs Wales – Probability & Scoreline
Chance of winning
South Africa: 72%
Wales: 20%
Draw: 8%
Predicted points outcome
South Africa: 27 points
Wales: 15 points