Two of those Tests were played at Rugby World Cups. The team for Sunday was announced on Thursday, with Rassie Erasmus saying the Boks are ready for a massive challenge.

In 2011, South Africa won their pool match in Wellington by the narrowest of margins by 17-16; and in 2015 Wales and South Africa met in the quarter-final match at Twickenham for another close encounter, won by the Springboks, 23-19.

Wales have competed in all RWC tournaments since 1987. To date the Welsh record is as follows:

Played 42; Won 26; Lost 16; Points for 1 205; Points against 806; Win % 62.

South Africa’s first RWC tournament was in 1995 and the Springbok record to date is as follows:

Played 41; Won 35; Lost 6; Points for 1 461; Points against 515; Win % 85.

TEAM MATCH RECORDS AGAINST WALES

  • Most points: 96
  • Most tries: 15
  • Most conversions: 9
  • Most penalty goals: 5 (On 4 occasions)
  • Most drop goals: 1 (On three occasions)

INDIVIDUAL MATCH RECORDS AGAINST WALES

  • Most points: 31 – Percy Montgomery
  • Most tries: 3 – Joost van der Westhuizen and Pieter Rossouw
  • Most conversions: 9 – Percy Montgomery
  • Most penalty goals: 5 – Butch James, Morné Steyn and Handré Pollard
  • Most drop goals: 1 – Hansie Brewis, Lionel Wilson and Handré Pollard

MISCELLANEOUS

  • The total test caps for the Springbok starting line-up is 677.
  • There are 213 caps in the backline with 464 caps among the forwards. On the bench there are a further 301 caps.
  • The average caps per player in the backline is 30, the forwards 58 while the players on the bench average 38.
  • The average age of the starting fifteen is 28.

RECORD WATCH

  • Handré Pollard needs two tries to equal the career record of eight tries as a flyhalf held by Morné Steyn. He also needs three penalty goals to equal Percy Montgomery’s 10 career penalty goals against Wales.
  • Furthermore, he needs one drop goal to become the sole record holder for most career drop goals against Wales. Currently, he shares the record with Hansie Brewis and Lionel Wilson.

MATCH OFFICIALS

  • The referee is Jérôme Garcès of France. This will be his 15th Test match as a referee with South Africa involved and his 57th Test match in his career.
  • The Assistant referees are Wayne Barnes of England and Ben O’Keeffe of New Zealand while Ben Skeen, also from New Zealand, will be the TMO.