South Africa v Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Damian Willemse kicks Springboks to last-gasp win
Follow reaction from the first Test of Wales’ summer tour as the Springboks break Welsh hearts
Full back Damian Willemse kicked a pressure penalty after the hooter to secure South Africa rugby a 32-29 victory over ill-disciplined Wales rugby in a see-saw test at a raucous Loftus Versfeld.
Louis Rees-Zammit crossed twice in the first half to put Wales in control and Dewi Lake also crossed to seemingly snatch a draw late on for the tourists, who came agonisingly close to their first-ever victory on South African soil.
They ran the world champions so close but paid the price for their cynical play in their own 22 as they lost four players to yellow cards and conceded a penalty try.
The Springboks might have won by a greater margin but for their own lacklustre play as their tactical kicking was abysmal and decision-making in key phases of play unusually poor. Hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx, and wing Cheslin Kolbe, crossed for tries for the home side. The second of three tests will be played in Bloemfontein next Saturday with Wales still in search of a first win in South Africa after 11 attempts.
Follow all the reaction below with our live blog:
Australia 23-14 England, 73 minutes
Australia try to maul for extra territory at the lineout but it goes down, with no fault on the part of England, according to the referee. Danny Care will feed a scrum 25 metres out on the right.
Henry Arundell is on for an England debut. He travelled as an apprentice, but the incredibly exciting London Irish back-three livewire has forced his way in. Can he produce a moment of magic?
Australia 23-14 England, 72 minutes
England must score quickly, you’d think - and they win the ball back from the restart! Jack Nowell is the beneficiary, entering the Australian 22.
Ollie Chessum has come on, and is launched into the gold Australian wall - but he is dumped on his back and isolated, and they are three Australian bodies there to force him to hold on, both prominently Pete Samu.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 23-14 England (Folau Fainga’a try, 70 minutes)
Folau Fainga’a crashes over! England elect not to contest the replacement hooker’s throw, focussing their efforts on halting the maul drive. They do so, but not in a manner to please referee James Doleman - who grants Australia advantage.
England rush to the openside preparing for further defensive efforts, but Fainga’a gets his head up, spies great gaps close to the collapsed maul and carries two English tacklers with him as he crashes over.
Another Noan Lolesio conversion and the lead is nine points.
Australia 16-14 England, 69 minutes
Australia are galvanised. A clever stab in behind is chased by Jordan Petaia, who shunts Freddie Steward into touch by his own corner flag. A huge chance, this.
Yellow card! Billy Vunipola is sent to the sin bin! Australia 16-14 England, 68 minutes
Yellow it is. Most of the rest of the game will be played fourteen-aside.
Joe Marler, left out of the England touring squad, disagrees with James Doleman’s conclusion.
TMO check! Australia 16-14 England, 68 minutes
It’s a double tackle from Vunipola and Will Stuart which Hooper dips into. “It’s passive”, James Doleman says, but he revises that slightly after seeing the collision at full speed.
Hooper’s dip will provide some mitigation, but this probably a card...
Australia 16-14 England, 67 minutes
Dave Rennie, face still a picture of focus, pumps his fist - the Australia head coach enjoyed that one. England call for Luke Cowan-Dickie to replace Jamie George.
Michael Hooper knocks on just inside his own half, but Billy Vunipola’s tackle might need a further look. There could well be shoulder-to-head contact.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 16-14 England (Jordan Petaia try, 64 minutes)
And the Wallabies strike! Initially it is the forwards who make telling dents in fringe defence, condensing the English line, and drawing an error - a lazy tackler offside at the next ruck.
That brings penalty advantage, and a chance to use the hands. England are just about numbered up well but struggling to fill the width, and Len Ikitau squares them up before passing, allowing enough room for Jordan Petaia to get outside Freddie Steward and over the top of Danny Care in the corner. A well-take score and reward for Marika Koroibete’s outstanding chase at the restart.
Noah Lolesio converts very, very well, and Optus Stadium lifts with Australia again in the lead.
Australia 9-14 England, 62 minutes
Better from Australia - a well-directed restart is superbly won in the air by Marika Koroibete, beating Jack Nowell in the air and his more dominant take earns a scrum call with the ruck unplayable.
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