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 16:40 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-31 South Africa, 56 mins

There was always the feeling that this would be the real litmus test for Wales and this is a worrying result for their fans.

Fair to say that the close games with England are at one level and the Springboks are in a completely different league.

It’s becoming increasingly hard to think anything other than France, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa are miles ahead of everyone else at the moment...

[19 August 2023 16:34 · Luke Baker]

TRY! Wales 9-31 South Africa (Jesse Kriel, 52 mins)

South Africa go coast to coast and score through Jesse Kriel! A dagger to the Welsh heart.

After the Dyer and Costelow breaks, Wales are well set in the Boks 22 but Pieter-Steph du Toit reads a Kieran Hardy pass, snaffles it up and sets off towards halfway.

Kriel is on his shoulder - the flanker decides a centre is a better bet to go all the way and he outpaces the despairing dive of Tom Rogers to score under the posts! Scintillating stuff. Easy conversion for Libbok - things going from bad to worse for Gatland and co.

[19 August 2023 16:34 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-24 South Africa, 50 mins

More changes for the Boks as they empty their forwards from the bench. Franco Mostert and Duane Vermeulen on to complete the six new faces in the pack.

This is better from Wales though! Room down the left as Dyer streaks down the flank, inside to Costelow to make more ground although Moodie does well to bring him down from behind.

[19 August 2023 16:31 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-24 South Africa, 48 mins

Hmmm. Wales weren’t really going anywhere there and then knock on in midfield.

Nicky Smith and Henry Thomas on as Wales also freshen up the front row. Ooof - the new props get decimated by the Bomb Squad squad and it’s another scrum penalty won by the Boks. Brutal.

[19 August 2023 16:28 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-24 South Africa, 47 mins

Here come the bomb squad! Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch on for an all-new front row. Jeez! What a trio to have in reserve.

And Nche straight into the action. The Wales lineout struggles at the worst moment as Jean Kleyn gets a big paw up to disrupt and the mammoth prop gobbles up the loose ball to allow South Africa to clear. Frustrating for the hosts.

[19 August 2023 16:27 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-24 South Africa, 46 mins

The Wales lineout continuing to function well - Dee to Wainwright working nicely.

Good, plunging carries by Dyer and then Morgan, the latter handing off Hendrikse, and Wales are well into the Boks 22. Back for a penalty and after consistently going for the posts in the first half, they kick for touch.

Great opportunity for a first try.

[19 August 2023 16:24 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-24 South Africa, 44 mins

Lovely play by the Springboks, sweeping to the right. Manie Libbok slides through a gap in the defensive line but his pass is a shade behind Canan Moodie and the ball hits the ground.

Wales then manage to win a scrum! Frans Malherbe pinged for not driving straight and Costelow can gratefully clear to touch. Rio Dyer also back on so we’re at 15 vs 15 again!

[19 August 2023 16:22 · Luke Baker]

Wales 9-24 South Africa, 41 mins

South Africa run from deep as they continue to show their intentions. Great tackle by Jac Morgan to wrap up the slippery Cheslin Kolbe and drive him into touch.

Siya Kolisi was subbed at half-time, with Marco van Staden coming on. A good 40-minute outing for Kolisi on his return from an ACL injury.

[19 August 2023 16:21 · Luke Baker]

KICK-OFF! Wales 9-24 South Africa

Back underway and Wales need things to really, really turn around here in Cardiff... Rio Dyer has about three more minutes on his sin-bin by the way

[19 August 2023 16:19 · Luke Baker]

HALF-TIME! Wales 9-24 South Africa

Here is Mason Grady’s moment of madness. The young centre won’t want to see this again...