Wales vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby result and reaction from 2021 Autumn International fixture tonight
Relive all the action from Cardiff
World champions South Africa ended a run of four successive away defeats against Wales by claiming a dramatic 23-18 victory at the Principality Stadium.
It was the Springboks’ first win in Cardiff since 2013, but they did not secure it until substitute hooker Malcolm Marx scored a 73rd-minute try and Elton Jantjies kicked a penalty.
Despite being without injured captain Alun Wyn Jones and a host of other absent British and Irish Lions, Wales delivered a towering performance, with fly-half Dan Bigger kicking six penalties.
Biggar’s sixth successful penalty put Wales back in front at 18-15, although there was drama just a minute earlier when the hosts attacked through Liam Williams just as a spectator ran on to the pitch only a few metres away from him.
Williams had to jump over the pitch invader before he was duly led away, although Wales would not have scored.
Handre Pollard kicked four penalties and Frans Steyn one for South Africa, yet Wales bounced back superbly from a 54-16 drubbing against New Zealand last weekend.
And their outstanding performer was flanker Ellis Jenkins who suffered a major knee injury against the Springboks three years ago and had not played Test rugby since.
Wales were without Jones, while other unavailable Lions included Ross Moriarty, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and George North, with centre Jonathan Davies taking over as skipper.
South Africa made three switches from the side that beat New Zealand last month, with full-back Damian Willemse, wing Jesse Kriel and scrum-half Herschel Jantjies all featuring behind an unchanged pack.
Wales made a bright start and shaded the early possession, with Biggar mixing his running and kicking game impressively before wing Louis Rees-Zammit was denied a try by brilliant Springboks cover defence.
Biggar kicked Wales into the lead through a 10th-minute penalty, but Pollard landed an equalising strike two minutes later as persistent drizzle swirled around the stadium.
Biggar restored Wales’ advantage through a second penalty, while South Africa saw Willemse go off for a head injury assessment as Steyn joined the action.
A tight opening quarter reached its conclusion with South Africa showing an early sign of scrum dominance and Pollard kicking a second penalty to make it 6-6.
South Africa attempted to launch their main ball-carriers at Wales, but the home side defended superbly, with Jenkins at the forefront.
Biggar completed his penalty hat-trick 13 minutes before the break, and referee Paul Williams’ growing impatience at South Africa’s poor technical discipline saw him engage in a lengthy conversation with Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi.
South Africa then saw prop Ox Nche yellow-carded for obstruction on Tompkins, and Biggar’s fourth successful penalty opened up a six-point advantage.
But even though Wales had prop Rhys Carre sin-binned for a technical infringement, they deservedly claimed a 12-9 interval lead after Pollard landed a third penalty.
South Africa sent on a replacement front row of Steven Kitshoff, Marx and Vincent Koch just five minutes after the restart as they looked to establish a foothold in the game.
Wales were forced into a defensive rearguard, but they tackled and harried magnificently before breaking away, forcing South Africa to infringe, and Biggar kicked a 45-metre penalty.
It was a stirring effort by the home side, and although the Springboks looked more threatening in attack than during the first half, it required a 52-metre penalty from Steyn for their next points.
South Africa, however, had other ideas, breaking into Wales’ half from 70 metres out, but wing Makazole Mapimpi had a try disallowed, and the home side retained their narrow advantage before Marx struck following a relentlessly-driven lineout, but Elton Jantjies missed the conversion.
Jantjies final kick penalty, though, meant South Africa sealed the deal and finally broke Welsh resistance.
Despite being without injured captain Alun Wyn Jones and a host of other absent British and Irish Lions, Wales delivered a towering performance, with fly-half Dan Bigger kicking six penalties. Follow below for latest reaction:
Wales 12-6 South Africa (Biggar pen 32’)
Biggar doubles Wales’ lead with another simple kick. There’s a huge chance for Wales now to take advantage before the end of the half.
YELLOW CARD: Wales 9-6 South Africa
32 mins: Ox Nché is shown a yellow card and South Africa are down to 14! He was cleared for the first one, and the second tackle wasn’t a yellow card offense, but the prop has been sent to the bin more for the accumulation of South African infringements in that passage of play.
Wales 9-6 South Africa
31 mins: It’s penalties galore from South Africa as Wales push forward. There could be a yellow card coming up...
Indeed, Ox Nché is being looked at for a high tackle, more of a clothesline really, on Nick Tompkins.
Those players then came together again as Nché stepped in to block Tompkins following a Biggar chip.
Wales 9-6 South Africa
29 mins: South Africa look for a quick response but their momentum crashes to a halt as Jantjies slices a kick barely five yards. Wales win a penalty for offside and Biggar earns his side some territory as he finds touch.
Good chance for Wales now as they look to build the phases in the South Africa half.
Wales 9-6 South Africa (Biggar pen 27’)
26 mins: Jantjies costs South Africa some yards as he kicks from inside the 22, and Wales win the penalty after De Allende does not release on a storming run from Jonathan Davies.
It’s another simple one for Biggar.
It has been confirmed that Willemse won’t return for South Africa following his HIA.
Wales 6-6 South Africa
24 mins: South Africa dial up the same play as Mbonambi leads the charge. They work it wide through the massive locks De Jager and Etzebeth, but Wales stand strong! Huge defensive effort from the returning Jenkins as Wales earn the turnover.
Biggar boots the ball into touch at halfway.
Wales 6-6 South Africa
22 mins: From the line-out, Mbonambi leads the South Africa push - and Wales conceded the penalty for taking the man out.
Pollard goes straight back to the corner.
Wales 6-6 South Africa
20 mins: The ball continues to slip between fingers and pop through clutched hands as Wales regain possession from kick-off, retain it after a couple of quick line-outs, only to lose it as Mbonambi races out to force the penalty and turnover.
South Africa move up the pitch, pick up another penalty and that sees Pollard kick for the corner.
The pressure is on Wales now.
Wales 6-6 South Africa (Pollard pen 18’)
17 mins: South Africa roll through the Wales pack from the scrum to earn the penalty. Quite the statement, that. The advantage comes to nothing, as Wales scampered back to recover, and Pollard will kick for the goal.
Easy. We’re level once more.
Wales 6-3 South Africa
15 mins: These restarts are causing chaos on what is a wet night in Cardiff, with misty rain continuing to fall. Aaron Wainwright is the latest player to spill the high ball from kick-off, with South Africa this time opting to go for the scrum.
A first test for Wales against the power of the world champions’ front row and forward pack.
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