South Africa vs Wales Rugby Union Head-to-Head & Stats - Springboks dominant against Wales

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 25 Nov 2024

Ralph Staniforth 25 Nov 2024

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South Africa and Wales have met 41 times
Wales lost 27 of their first 29 games against the Springboks
The first Test between Wales and South Africa took place in 1906

South Africa have a dominant record against Wales (Getty Images)

South Africa and Wales rugby history goes back to 1906 when they first met – a match South Africa won 11-0.

While South Africa dominated the early years of this fixture, it has become a far more even contest over the last decade and a half.

South Africa vs Wales Head-to-Head Record

Fixtures in those early years were few and far between but South Africa dominated, winning the first 12 meetings with Wales. Wales’s first win over the Springboks came in 1999 at the opening of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

That victory was not the turn of the tide though as South Africa followed it with 16 successive wins against the Welsh. Wales had to wait until 2014 when they beat South Africa 12-6 in Cardiff. That was the start of a run where Wales won five of their next six against the Springboks.

Overall, these sides have met 41 times with South Africa winning 33, Wales seven along with a singular draw back in 1970.

Info	Played	Won by South Africa	Won by Wales	Drawn
Overall	42	34	7	1
In South Africa	13	12	1	0
In Wales	24	18	5	1
Neutral	5	4	1	0

Latest Results

Date	Result	Score	Venue	Country
26 Nov 2016	Wales Won	27-13	Principality Stadium	Wales
2 Dec 2017	Wales Won	24-22	Principality Stadium	Wales
2 June 2018	Wales Won	22-20	RFK Stadium	USA
24 Nov 2018	Wales Won	20-11	Principality Stadium	Wales
27 Oct 2019	South Africa Won	19-16	International Stadium	Japan
6 Nov 2021	South Africa Won	23-18	Principality Stadium	Wales
2 Jul 2022	South Africa Won	32-29	Loftus Versfeld	South Africa
9 Jul 2022	Wales Won	13-12	Free State Stadium	South Africa
16 Jul 2022	South Africa Won	30-14	Cape Town Stadium	South Africa
19 Aug 2023	South Africa Won	52-16	Principality Stadium	Wales
22 Jun 2024	South Africa Won	41-13	Twickenham	England
23 Nov 24	South Africa Won	45-12	Principality Stadium	Wales

Rugby World Cup Records

South Africa and Wales did not play each other at the World Cup until 2011, but they then faced off in the three successive World Cup’s. The Springboks won all three games by a margin of four points or less.