South Africa vs Wales

Wales have a lot to prove considering the Springboks are on a 10-game winning streak. The 1^st test kicks off on Saturday 2^nd of July at the ever-popular Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The Springboks are to face Wales at a full capacity Loftus, which is 50 000 spectators! What a way to start the tournament. Ultimately the Springboks thrive on spectators, and it will definitely be worth seeing the reigning champs in action.

Nationwide Covid restrictions were lifted last week. Therefore local rugby fans wasted no time in snapping up tickets to see their favourite world champions the Springboks. This will be the Springboks’ 1^st match in front of home fans since their 2019 World Cup victory. Last year’s Rugby Championship and the British and Irish Lions series were played in empty stadiums.

Rival History

The Springboks and Wales have competed against each other in rugby union since 1906. They have played 37 matches to date, South Africa have won 30 of these games. Furthermore with one draw and six wins in Wales favour. The Boks are also the only team to win an away match between the two sides, having won in Wales 16 times. Moreover in the most recent match between the Boks and Wales in Cardiff, the Springboks needed a 73^rd minute try from Marx and Jantjies’ penalty to seal a 23-18 victory. So it was a very close call but still a deserving win.

What will happen this weekend when the rugby giants clash?

July Test Series fixtures:

• Saturday 2 July: South Africa v Wales – Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Saturday 9 July: South Africa v Wales – Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
• Saturday 16 July: South Africa v Wales – DHL Stadium, Cape Town

There is plenty of rugby to be watched this weekend. With the world’s top 10 teams in action on Saturday there could be significant changes in the World Rugby Men’s rankings. A Wales upset will guarantee a climb to eight position. Subsequently France can top the rankings if they win. However South Africa will have to lose to Wales and it must be a draw at Eden Park between New Zealand and Ireland. We do however believe the Springboks will come out firing and not back down for a second on Saturday. Wales do believe they have the Springboks figured out. They are prepared to counter their gameplan and therefore a very physical onslaught is expected from Wales.

Coach Pivac & Nienaber

Coach Pivac stated that they have played the Boks in the autumn series and they don’t expect much to change from the way they played Wales. Obviously it was very effective for the Boks and Wales expect a brutal game. They will be playing at altitude but it will be exciting and Wales are relishing the massive challenge of facing the world champs in their backyard. Dan Biggar will be captaining the Dragons in his 101^st test appearance, with veteran Alun Wyn Jones down to play off the bench.

Coach Nienabers 43-man Springbok squad named for this year’s series contains a balance of loyal senior players. A return for some after a few years out of the Test environment and a number of potential debutants. Undoubtedly they have been rewarded with an impressive 17 players having experienced the pressure of playing in a final for their club this season. One of those deciders was the United Rugby Championship (URC) final, played in Cape Town which was played between the Stormers and Bulls. Subsequently won by the Stormers. Without a doubt Kolisi will be Captaining the Bok side as expected.

The uncapped players are Evan Roos, Elrigh Louw, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat, Ntuthuko Mchunu and Deon Fourie for the forwards. And among the backs, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Grant Williams hope to win first caps.

Teams

Springbok Squad

Forwards: Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks), Steven Kitshoff (DHL Stormers), Vincent Koch (Saracens), Frans Malherbe (DHL Stormers), Ntuthuko Mchunu (Cell C Sharks), Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks), Trevor Nyakane (Racing 92), Joseph Dweba (Bordeaux), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Cell C Sharks), Lood de Jager (Sale Sharks), Eben Etzebeth (Cell C Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (DHL Stormers), Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls), Marvin Orie (DHL Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Marcell Coetzee (Vodacom Bulls), Siya Kolisi (Cell C Sharks – Captain), Elrigh Louw (Vodacom Bulls), Evan Roos (DHL Stormers), Kwagga Smith (Yamaha Júbilo), Jasper Wiese (Leicester Tigers), Rynhardt Elstadt (Toulouse), Deon Fourie (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat).

Backs: Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks), Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks), Herschel Jantjies (DHL Stormers), Grant Williams (Cell C Sharks), Johan Goosen (Bulls), Elton Jantjies (NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes), Handre Pollard (Montpellier Herrault), Lukhanyo Am (Cell C Sharks), Damian de Allende (Munster), Andre Esterhuizen (Harlequins), Jesse Kriel (Cannon Eagles), Aphelele Fassi (Sharks), Warrick Gelant (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon), Willie le Roux (Toyota Verblitz,), Makazole Mapimpi (Cell C Sharks, Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian Willemse (Stormers).

Wales Squad

Forwards: Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys ), Will Rowlands (Dragons), Taine Basham (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Rugby), James Ratti (Cardiff Rugby – uncapped), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – uncapped)

Backs: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 100 caps) Captain, Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Johnny Williams (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby), Liam Williams (Scarlets)

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Herewith the World Rugby Rankings as it stands:

1. South Africa
2. France
3. New Zealand
4. Ireland
5. England
6. Australia
7. Scotland
8. Argentina
9. Wales
10. Japan

Therefore the weekend line up looks brutal and just the way rugby fans like it, line up is as follows:

1 July 2022:

Romania V Italy

2 July 2022:

• Australia ‘A’ V Samoa
• Fiji V Tonga
• Japan V France
• New Zealand V Ireland
• Australia V England
• South Africa V Wales
• Argentina V Scotland

Moreover all the above teams are playing again next Saturday with Georgia, Spain and Canada added on the Sunday. Lastly with the Rugby World Cup 2023 not that far away have a read through our article of who has qualified and have a look at our list of Best Betting sites.

South Africa v Wales promotions

Betway has an exciting promotion for its new and exciting players. Opt into the South Africa v Wales promotion on the Betway site and bet R100 or more on each of the three matches until 16 July. Then you go into the draw to win tickets to see South Africa vs New Zealand live at Ellis Park on 13 August 2022.

Other bookies such as betcoza or Gbets are also good for rugby betting promotions.