Wales v South Africa preview: Springboks to test home defence

Autumn international: Wales v South Africa

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 29 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Coverage: Listen on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app

Wales aim to finish their autumn with a spirited performance against South Africa, but there is a serious danger of a half-century of points being conceded in Cardiff for a fourth time this year.

That head coach Steve Tandy is able to feel positive after three of the four November fixtures having been played shows the size of the task he has taken on.

Wales were convincingly beaten 52-28 by Argentina and 52-26 by New Zealand either side of getting themselves out of a hole when edging out Japan 24-23 with the last kick.

With 11 tries in three games, their attack is giving reason for optimism prior to the Six Nations, but the other side of the game remains a huge problem.

Wales are braced for a serious examination on Saturday against a South Africa side that can play expansively, but base their game on explosive power.

«They know exactly what that game is and they can adapt, but most of the time they don’t need to,» said Tandy, whose side have conceded 16 tries in three fixtures.

«There’s a pride in their identity of how to play and that fits their physical attributes as well. They’ve got the physicality and athleticism to back that gameplan up.»

Wales have conceded 368 points in 10 fixtures this calendar year at an average of 36.8, with the lowest point the 68-14 home humiliation at the hands of England.

By way of comparison with other Six Nations teams, England average 17.1, Ireland 18.9, Scotland 20.9, France 25.6, and Italy 31.9.

Wales have held their opponents to fewer than 20 points just once since the 2023 World Cup, when beaten 16-14 by England in London.

Tandy inherited a side that was leaking points and it should be recognised that he has only had the squad for just over a month, and does not have a permanent defence coach on his staff.

The former flanker had that role with Scotland and the British and Irish Lions in 2021.

He has taken the lead, alongside his many other duties, with the help of legendary former blindside flanker Dan Lydiate, who is only at the start of his coaching career with Dragons.

Wales started the autumn by making 187 tackles against Argentina with a success rate of 86%, the Pumas making 14 line breaks.

A week later they went up to 216 tackles and 90% with Japan managing five line breaks.

The tackle count against New Zealand – which ended at 223 with a success rate of 85% – eventually told, with the All Blacks making nine line breaks.

Wales have suffered from the loss of captain Jac Morgan and opted against calling up openside Tommy Reffell to provide another jackal threat, instead giving versatile Cardiff back row Alex Mann the chance to enjoy an encouraging run in the team.

On the back foot against power, they have been unable to stem the flow with only five breakdown steals over the course of the campaign.

Yet it is their discipline that will be in the spotlight against a South Africa machine that will be so hard to stop in the 22.

Wales have conceded 33 penalties in the November Tests so far, with indiscretions leading to a red card for Josh Adams and yellows for Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams, Taine Plumtree and Gareth Thomas.

«We have to be smarter because we spent 10 minutes in the 22 defending last weekend,» said Tandy.

«The bravery, toughness, quality and physicality they put in was outstanding, but we wanted to do that less because you can see what we can do when we’re at the other end of the field.»

South Africa have averaged 37 points and five tries per game from autumn successes against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

The world champions will be expected to make it a clean sweep on Saturday, the hope is that Tandy’s side can limit the damage.