Wales v South Africa LIVE: Rugby result and reaction from World Cup warm-up in Cardiff

Wales 16-52 South Africa: Wales thrashed in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up by the Springboks as Siya Kolisi returns from long-term injury

(Action Images via Reuters)

Winger Canan Moodie and centre Jesse Kriel ran in a brace of tries each as South Africa flexed their considerable muscle with a thumping 52-16 victory over Wales in their Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture in Cardiff.

Wales coach Warren Gatland names his 33-player squad for the World Cup on Monday and will have learnt much about his team from this home humiliation, in which they were out-muscled up front and out-thought with ball in hand.

The Springboks scored eight tries in all as hooker Malcolm Marx, flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit and replacement back Damien Willemse also crossed to go with a penalty try, though they will be concerned over a high error count and some poor kicking.

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi made a successful return from long-term injury with a superb 40 minutes in his first international appearance in 2023 and will hope to add to that when the Boks play old foes New Zealand in a final warm-up fixture in London on Friday.

Relive the action from Cardiff with our blog below and you can find the latest rugby tips and betting offers here

Wales vs South Africa - Rugby World Cup warm-up updates

• Wales thrashed South Africa in final World Cup warm-up in Cardiff
• Springboks run in eight tries and captain Siya Kolisi successfully returns from long-term ACL injury
• FULL-TIME! Wales 16-52 South Africa
• 72’ - TRY! Parry burrows over the line for a consolation try (WAL 16-52 RSA)
• 69’ - TRY! Willemse runs in an eighth try from Libbok’s flat pass (WAL 9-52 RSA)
• 61’ - TRY! Moodie intercepts a Williams pass for a simple run-in (WAL 9-45 RSA)
• 59’ - TRY! Du Toit powers over from a five-metre lineout (WAL 9-38 RSA)
• 52’ - TRY! Springboks go coast to coast as Du Toit intercepts and passes to Kriel for interception try (WAL 9-31 RSA)
• 35’ - TRY! Grady’s ludicrous offload in his own in-goal area touched down by Kriel (WAL 9-24 RSA)
• 34’ - TRY! Penalty try as Dyer deliberately knocks the ball into touch (WAL 9-19 RSA)
• 23’ - TRY! Moodie finishes off superb team move (WAL 6-12 RSA)
• 5’ - TRY! Marx over in the corner after brilliant Kolisi offload (WAL 0-5 RSA)

[19 August 2023 17:01 · Luke Baker]

BUNKER REVIEW! Wales 9-52 South Africa (Damian Willemse, 70 mins)

Bunker time!

Wales break down the left through Rio Dyer, who is hauled in from behind by Marco van Staden but Damian Willemse joins the tackle from the front and there’s head to head contact.

Willemse is very upright and there’s force in the collision, so he’s given a yellow card, with referee Andrew Brace ordering the bunker to take a look and see if it’s upgraded to a red.

The tackle of Van Staden, if it is determined to change Dyer’s direction may save Willemse.

[19 August 2023 16:57 · Luke Baker]

TRY! Wales 9-52 South Africa (Damian Willemse, 69 mins)

Tap and go, then South Africa set up a maul. Within inches but penalty coming, so they spread the ball wide and Damian Willemse has acres of room to run in after a flat Libbok pass. Try number eight.

From bad to worse for Wales as debutant Teddy Williams sent to the sin-bin for foul play in the build-up. The try doesn’t save him.

[19 August 2023 16:55 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-45 South Africa, 68 mins

Mbonambi brought down a metre short and Du Toit goes again. He’s over the line but flipped on to his back and held up. Another penalty coming though.

[19 August 2023 16:54 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-45 South Africa, 67 mins

Springboks kick to the corner (after Kolbe impeded in the air, what else is new...) and are hunting an eighth try.

[19 August 2023 16:51 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-45 South Africa, 63 mins

We’ve almost got a game of sevens breaking out! Turnovers in open play as Kolbe goes on a run before Morgan does well to pilfer the ball, then Louis Rees-Zammit, recently off the bench, responds.

The Rogers vs Kolbe aerial battle continues and this time it’s the Welshman contacting his Boks opponent in the air. Tit for tat, I suppose

[19 August 2023 16:48 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-45 South Africa, 63 mins

Here come the Springboks again. The jinking, sliding Cheslin Kolbe dances his way into the Welsh 22.

They stick up a cross-field kick with a penalty advantage but Kolbe contacts Tom Rogers in the air and that foul play sees the penalty overturned. Wales survive for now.

[19 August 2023 16:45 · Luke Baker]

TRY! Wales 9-45 South Africa (Canan Moodie, 61 mins)

Oh deary, deary, deary me. This is turning into a rout.

It’s far, far too easy for the Springboks. Wales try to run a first-phase move off a lineout, Johnny Williams with a no-look pass that is intercepted by Canan Moodie and he runs in under the posts for a simple score. Simple conversion follows

Fair to say, neither Wales starting centre has exactly provided a compelling reason for Warren Gatland to include them in his World Cup squad today...

[19 August 2023 16:44 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-38 South Africa, 60 mins

A nice moment for Teddy Williams as he comes on for his international debut. The Cardiff forward deservedly getting a cap after a great season.

[19 August 2023 16:42 · Luke Baker]

TRY! Wales 9-38 South Africa (Pieter-Steph du Toit, 59 mins)

Easy as you like for South Africa.

Five-metre lineout expertly converted. Wales set up to defend the maul, Marco van Staden instead flips the ball to Pieter-Steph du Toit on the wraparound and he powers his way over the line, pushed by RG Snyman and dragging Welsh defenders with him.

The legendary South African physicality distilled in one move.

Easy conversion for Libbok.

[19 August 2023 16:41 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-31 South Africa, 57 mins

Springboks win the penalty and kick to the corner. A five-metre lineout coming...