Wales and South Africa will meet in the opening match of the WXV Global Series at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday, 18 September, with kick-off at 19:15 BST. The game will be broadcast live on BBC One, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app, with live text updates also available for those unable to watch. Wales hold a strong historical advantage over South Africa, having won six of their eight previous encounters, including a memorable victory five years ago where Carys Phillips scored a hat-trick. However, Wales have struggled in recent times, suffering nine consecutive Test losses, which has dropped them to 13th in the world rankings. South Africa, in contrast, has been on an upward trajectory, climbing to 10th in the rankings after reaching their first-ever Rugby World Cup quarter-final last summer and securing recent wins over Fiji and the USA. Wales head coach Sean Lynn has made several key changes to his team, including moving experienced scrum-half Keira Bevan to fly-half. This decision was influenced by her versatility during pre-season and her club performances with Bristol Bears. Three debutants have also been named in the matchday 23, including former Cardiff City footballer Amy Williams, who will start on the wing after scoring two tries in an uncapped match for the Barbarians. South Africa’s coaching staff, Laurian Johannes-Haupt and Franzel September, have also reshuffled their side. Felicia Jacobs will start at scrum-half, while Sevens star Maria Tshiremba is set to win her second cap on the wing after scoring a hat-trick in her debut against Fiji. Maceala Samboya starts at outside centre, and Logan Welman is named at number eight, with Aseza Hele expected to make an impact from the bench. Wales’ recent form has been poor, with losses to Italy, Ireland, France, and Scotland in the 2026 Six Nations. Their only victory was a 34-17 win over the Barbarians in an uncapped game in June. South Africa’s most recent match was a defeat against the Black Ferns, but they had previously won back-to-back Tests against Fiji and shared results with the USA. Wales co-captain Alex Callender emphasized the need for the team to be brave and avoid falling back on old strategies, stressing the importance of confidence and adaptability. South Africa captain Babalwa Latsha noted the growth of both teams since their last meeting and expressed anticipation for a tightly contested match, particularly around set-pieces. BBC One commentator Gareth Rhys Owen highlighted the significance of Keira Bevan's positional change, suggesting it could be a short-term solution or a sign of future developments for Wales. He also noted South Africa's potential to become a major force in women's rugby, despite currently being a developing side. The line-ups have been confirmed, with Wales starting with Neumann at full-back and South Africa with Dolf in the same position. The match will be officiated by Ella Goldsmith, with Ruairidh Campbell and Rebecca Piddlesden as assistants, and Stefano Penne as the Television Match Official (TMO).