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South Africa vs Wales Predictions & Tips - South Africa set for comfortable win against Wales

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 18 Jun 2024

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Ralph Staniforth 18 Jun 2024

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South Africa vs Wales tips for Saturday’s rugby international fixture
Springboks have won 5 of their last 6 matches against Wales
Can the Boks get their season off to a convincing start?

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South Africa vs Wales predictions for Saturday’s rugby international fixture (Getty Images)

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Wales have struggled for form this year, losing all five Six Nations games. I don't see them getting very close against the world champions.

South Africa vs Wales Preview
Head to Head
South Africa Form
South Africa Injuries & News
Wales Form
Wales Injuries & News

South Africa have on 5 of their last 6 matches against Wales.
South Africa have won 6 of their last 7 matches.
Wales have lost their last 6 matches.
Wales have lost their last 2 matches against South Africa by more than 12 points.

Head to Head

Prior to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, these two met in a warmup game. South Africa won 52-16.

South Africa Form

South Africa come into the first test match of the international season full of confidence. The last time they ran out in the green and gold, they beat the All Blacks 12-11 in the Rugby World Cup final at the Stade de France.

While it has been a long absence of international rugby for the Springboks, they will be comfortable with their preparations. They won all but one of their World Cup games, losing 13-8 to Ireland in the group stage.

In terms of opposition, the Springboks have dominated Wales in recent times, winning five of their last six. The one defeat came in 2022, but it was a game where Jacques Nienaber rested his entire first choice side.

South Africa Injuries & News

Rassie Erasmus has named two debutants in the starting lineup. Edwill van der Merwe will start at wing and Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf. There are two more newcomers on the bench.

Pieter-Steph du Toit captains a side that includes plenty of World Cup winners, some of them two-time winners.

Wales Form

Wales have been poor for a few seasons now and desperately need to start finding results. They lost all five Six Nations matches earlier this year, including at home to Italy.

Warren Gatland’s side had some narrow defeats to Scotland, England and Italy, but will need to be much better if they are to get a result against the world champions.

During the 2023 Rugby World Cup, Wales were actually in quite promising form. They annihilated Australia in the group stage but then suffered a 12-point loss to Argentina in the quarter-final.

Wales Injuries & News

Gatland is also using this game to get some new players in. Ellis Bevan makes his debut at scrumhalf while Eddie James, James Ratti and Jacob Beetham will win their first caps from the wood.

Captain, Jac Morgan has been ruled out for a few weeks with injury.

Verdict

South Africa v Wales

I am backing South Africa to cover the -12 handicap in this game. On top of that, there is value in debutant winger, Edwill van der Merwe in the try scoring markets.

South Africa -12

Handicap

@10/11 - 3 Units

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