World Rugby

Wales vs. South Africa Rugby: Live Springboks Scores And Updates

Wales vs. South Africa Rugby: Live Springboks Scores And Updates

South Africa Springboks end the 2024 international season against Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Follow the action live.

Nov 23, 2024 by Philip Bendon
Jesse Kriel Try | South Africa vs Wales | 24

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The No. 1 ranked rugby team in the world finishes its 2024 international season the way it started.

The South Africa rugby team began the international season with 41-13 win over Wales in June to kickoff the summer in Twickenham Stadium in London. They end the year in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium against the Dragons on Nov. 23. 

For the most part, it's been a dominant international season for South Africa who is 10-2 in 2024. The losses have come against No. 2 Ireland and to No. 5 Argentina in the Rugby Championship. But the wins include sweeps No. 3 New Zealand, Australia, England and Scotland. 

For Wales Rugby, 2024 has a chance to get even worse on Saturday, but not much. Warren Gatland's team has not won a match this year

Wales won the Wooden Spoon at the 2024 Six Nations going 0-0-5 and the summer was just as bad. The team lost to South Africa and Australia (twice) and lost to Fiji and Australia for a third time in November. 

Follow the Springboks and Dragons final 2024 international match live by refreshing this page for the latest scores and updates. 

Full Time Report

South Africa concluded their day with a so-so performance yielding 45 points. That is just how good this Springbok side is at the present moment and, unfortunately, how far off the pace Welsh Rugby is. On face value, this was a hammering, but if there are glimmers of hope to take from this for Welsh fans, several young players showed flashes of individual brilliance. In the pack, James Botham has every bit of sporting pedigree one could want as he follows in the footsteps of his iconic cricketing grandfather. Combining physicality with a highly tuned rugby mind, Botham is a player that Wales can build around. In the backline, Sam Costelow never stopped taking the ball to the line, even though he knew that a dark fate awaited. In the backfield, Rio Dyer proved that he remains the best Welsh winger at the present moment, thus making his absence over the past two weeks even more head-scratching. The big question now will be, can Warren Gatland survive a winless year and does he even want to? This will no doubt be confirmed in the coming days. 

On the flip side, the Springboks have maximised their 2024 campaign by using 50 players and handing 12 players debuts. Tonight, Cameron Hanekom looked like a 30-test veteran, which is a testament to the culture Rassie Erasmus has built. Across the board, the Boks rarely looked like they needed to get out of second gear to punish Wales, but they will be acutely aware that against the likes of New Zealand, France and Ireland, they will need to tidy up a few areas. This being said these are champagne problems for South African Rugby, who correctly ended 2024 as the World's number-one ranked side.

TRY! Wales! James Botham | Min 80

The home side proved even when they are down and out, they are warriors, and they are rewarded with a well-deserved try to finish the match. Getting through the Boks' defence with relentless work rate, backrow James Botham ends the contest and gets his team into double digits. WAL 12 - RSA 45

TRY! South Africa! Jordan Hendrikse | Min 75

Far from their best today, the Boks have just out-muscled Wales today, and this try comes from their ease of getting over the gainline. A picture-perfect offload from Cobus Reinach to Jordan Hendrikse get the Boks past 40 points. WAL 5 - RSA 45.

TRY! South Africa! Gerhard Steenekamp | Min 62

Pure power is all it took for the Springboks to lock in their fifth try. Driving over the Welsh defenders, South Africa's replacement loosehead took advantage of the tiring Welsh defence. WAL 5 - RSA 38.

TRY! South Africa! Apehelele Fassi | Min 54

That was the cruellest of scores for Wales to concede; following minutes of good play where they finally got a foothold in the game, they conceded points. The try itself was quite simple with Kurt-Lee Arendse simply drawing in the Welsh cover defence before putting Fassi away. Hendrikse misses the conversion wide right. WAL 5 - RSA 31.

Wales Growing 

South Africa have huffed and puffed but not quite managed to blow over the Welsh so far in this test. Wales are starting to show glimpses of positivity with a few key turnovers which has earned them the opportunity to get upfield with a line-out 10 meters out. Stay tuned!

Second Half Underway!

We are back underway here in Cardiff and the Boks have come out firing with some nice interplay. Trotting on to the park for his first cap is the highly rated number eight Cameron Hanekom who becomes the Boks 50th player in 2024 and their 12th debutant... let that sink in.

TRY! Wales! Rio Dyer | Min 40

Recalled for this match and immediately on the scoreboard! Rio Dyer utilised every bit of his top-line pace to skin the Springbok defence and got his team a much-needed foothold in the match! Sam Costelow missed the conversion, but that was much needed for the home side! WAL 5 - RSA 26.

TRY! South Africa! Elrigh Louw | Min 34

If there was ever an example of the difference between these two sides, it was this score. The Bok run over the Welsh at scrum time, and Elright Louw has the easiest of tries. Such was the dominance that the Welsh coaching staff have substituted Archie Griffin for his welfare. RSA 26 - WAL 0.

TRY CALLED BACK! 

Siya Kolisi's score is called back following a knock-on by scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse.

TRY! South Africa! Siya Kolisi | Min 32

The Springbok skipper benefits from a now-expected insane offload from RG Snyman! 

Wales Fronting Up

Clinging to a glimmer of positivity, Wales have been ferocious in defence and have really fronted up. Unfortunately they have yet to have any possession but they have shown pride in their jersey if nothing else.

TRY! South Africa! Kurt-Lee Arendse | Min 19

Too easy for the Boks here; they dominate the scrum and go through the hands before letting their electric winger do the rest with a nice left-foot step! Hendrikes converts. WAL 0 - RSA 19.

Bok Dominance

South Africa have camped in the Welsh twenty-two and have not intended to leave. Wales have fronted up in defence but you get the sense it is a matter of when not if they'll score again.

TRY! South Africa! Eben Etzebteh | Min 8

Sam Costelow takes a brilliant high ball, but the Welsh pack gets obliterated at the breakdown, and the ball squirts out to Kurt-Lee Arendse. The winger races away and pops the ball back inside to an onrushing Etzebeth, who finishes it off. Hendrikse misses the conversion but this is ominous for Wales. WAL  - RSA 12.

TRY! South Africa! Franco Mostert | Min 5

END-TO-END! Cheslin Kolbe bashes through contact following a scintilating break from Jesse Kriel. From a quick ruck, Franco Mostert claims the ball and races down the right hand flank! Jordan Hendrikse drills the conversion. WAL 0 - RSA 7.

Fascinating Start

Wales have poked and probed the Springbok beast early here with some intriguing play before turning the ball over and the Boks race down the park before a Jessie Kriel kick is blocked.

Welsh Passion

No matter the issues that face Welsh Rugby, there is no better atmosphere in World Rugby than a sold out Millenium Stadium crowd belting out their national anthem! PHENOMENAL!

Wales vs. South Africa Kickoff Time

The match is set for 12:40 p.m. ET from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. 

How To Watch Wales vs. South Africa Springboks In The United States

The match is streaming on Peacock. 

Watch: South Africa Springboks vs. Wales In June


World Rugby Rankings 2024

  1. South Africa, 92.78
  2. Ireland, 90.78
  3. New Zealand, 90.09
  4. France, 88.08
  5. Argentina, 85.40
  6. Scotland, 82.70
  7. England, 82.31
  8. Australia, 82.17
  9. Fiji, 80.07
  10. Italy, 78.92
  11. Wales, 74.01
  12. Georgia, 73.85
  13. Japan, 72.95
  14. Samoa, 72.68
  15. USA, 68.90
  16. Portugal, 68.82
  17. Spain, 67.10
  18. Uruguay, 65.94
  19. Tonga, 65.46
  20. Romania, 64.13

When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?

The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4. 

The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup). 

What Are The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup Pools?

Here are the pools:

Investec Champions Cup: 

  • Toulouse (Stade Toulousain)
  • Bordeaux-Bègles (Union Bordeaux-Bègles)
  • Hollywoodbets Sharks
  • Exeter Chiefs
  • Leicester Tigers
  • Ulster Rugby

Pool 2:

  • Leinster Rugby
  • Clermont Auvergne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
  • La Rochelle (Stade Rochelais)
  • Bristol Bears
  • Benetton Rugby
  • Bath Rugby

Pool 3:

  • Northampton Saints
  • Munster Rugby
  • Vodacom Bulls
  • Stade Français Paris
  • Saracens
  • Castres Olympique

Pool 4:

  • Glasgow Warriors
  • Racing 92
  • Sale Sharks
  • DHL Stormers
  • Toulon (RC Toulon)
  • Harlequins

EPCR Challenge Cup

Pool 1:

  • Cardiff Rugby
  • Connacht Rugby
  • Toyota Cheetahs
  • Perpignan (USAP)
  • Lyon Olympique Universitaire (Lyon O.U.)
  • Zebre Parma

Pool 2:

  • Montpellier Hérault Rugby
  • Pau (Section Paloise)
  • Newcastle Falcons
  • Dragons RFC
  • Emirates Lions
  • Ospreys

Pool 3:

  • RC Vannes
  • Black Lion
  • Bayonne (Aviron Bayonnais)
  • Scarlets
  • Edinburgh Rugby
  • Gloucester Rugby

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

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FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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