Test Match Location: Twickenham Stadium, London
Test Match Date: Saturday, June 22
BetXchange Test Match Odds:
History
The traditional June Tests are upon us, but because of the extended calendar coming off of a World Cup year, the Test window doesn’t begin until early July.
The 2024 tours see Wales traveling to Australia and South Africa hosting Ireland. In preparation, the Welsh and the Springboks will face off in a one-off Test match at the home of English rugby. Twickenham Stadium in London is the venue for this match, which falls outside that Test window.
The timing of the Test is the main talking point. South Africa is without any of its European-based players as it rests up before taking on the Irish. It is also without any of the players from the Bulls, as they have qualified for the 2023-24 URC Final. They will be looking to avenge their defeat in 2022 and, after knocking out Leinster in the semi-finals, will fancy their chances on home soil against the Glasgow Warriors, who upset No. 1 seed Munster last time out.
The problem is that the final is on the same day as this Test, so Rassie Erasmus’ small pool of available talent is even further reduced.
The positive way to look at this is to consider the number of fresh faces that this will bring to the Boks side. International rugby union can be a baptism by fire, and this will be a wonderful chance for Rassie to take a look at players who have been bubbling just under the level of the national side and reward them for their impressive seasons in the domestic competition.
South Africa
This is still a team loaded with experience, especially in the pack. The front row of Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, and Vincent Koch is as battle-tested as they come, while Eben Etzabeth and Franco Mostert at lock combine for 191 caps. This is good news for Jordan Hendrikse, with the Lions fly-half set to debut for the Boks, having previously tasted international representation at the sevens level.
Hendrikse will be joined in his maiden appearance in the starting XV by wing Edwll van der Merwe, while lock Ben-Jason Dixon and utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will pull on the ‘Boks jersey for the first time from the bench.
Wales
Dewi Lake captains Wales with influential flanker Jack Morgan ruled out with a hamstring injury. This is a young, hungry Welsh side, with much of their experience having retired in the past 18 months.
Warren Gatland is trying to use the start of a new World Cup cycle to lift Wales out of the rugby mire, so there will be plenty of pressure on Scarlets No. 10 Sam Costerlow (23) and Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Beven (24) to move this team around the park. This could prove difficult, with the undermanned Welsh forward pack expected to struggle against the size and power of their South African opponents.
Best Bets
South Africa thumped Wales 52-16 before the last World Cup. It is hard to see how Wales gets much closer, so the handicap of 21.5 feels like it is well within the Boks reach.
