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:
Second half begins!
Ah - Willie le Roux is indeed on, and looking through the South African bodies out there, it does appear that it may be Elton Jantjies who has departed.
Back underway.
Second half nears
Where do South Africa look to try and stabilise things? They could do with Handre Pollard, you’d say, to steady things at ten - would there be any temptation to push Damian Willemse forward and introduce Wille le Roux?
Louis Rees-Zammit’s second score
It feels like Wales are yet to truly produce anything in attack, and, oddly, even this second score came from an ill-executed set-piece that appeared to offer good platform. Still, they all count.
H/T: South Africa 3-18 Wales
Well well well. A dream half for Wales, who have taken all that a sloppy South Africa have thrown at them and pounced twice on loose balls to take what looks a significant 15-point lead. Defensively their physicality and organisation has been good, but they have been helped by the Springboks, who have been far below their best and whose game control has been found particularly wanting.
South Africa 3-18 Wales, 39 minutes
But that is staunch defence from Wales! South Africa fancy a battle of mauling might, but in Adam Beard and Will Rowlands Wales have two drive detonators, and the locks wrestle their way on to the ball and ensure that a slight inwards steer will be the only movement of the South African eight.
One more secure scrum should see Wales to half-time...
Yellow card! Dan Biggar is sent to the sin bin! South Africa 3-18 Wales, 38 minutes
Wales desperately kill the speed of South Africa’s ruck ball twice. South Africa again make a mess of their attack, but Nika Amashukeli brings them back for the first of those penalties...
And sends Dan Biggar to the sin bin! Out comes the yellow for the Welsh captain after cynically lying over the ball following that desperate retreating tackle. Wales down to 14 and South Africa kick to the corner.
South Africa 3-18 Wales, 37 minutes
Dan Biggar steps out of one tackle as he takes carrying duties after the scrum. But South AFrica attack three rucks in quick succession and at the third win the ball back.
That’s more like it from the Springboks! Damian Willemse gallops up the left touchline and feeds Faf de Klerk, who is just about hauled down from behind by Biggar deep inside the Welsh 22.
South Africa 3-18 Wales, 35 minutes
South Africa are going to need their Bomb Squad. It all looks a little disjointed from the Springboks, with Lood de Jager knocking on as he carries in midfield.
TRY! South Africa 3-18 WALES (Louis Rees-Zammit try, 33 minutes)
Another opportunistic score for Louis Rees-Zammit!
How’s your luck, Wales? This is a real curio of a try. Wales throw a long lineout over the top that falls into Elton Jantjies’ arms. The fly-half can’t gather cleanly, though scooping it backwards as he and Nick Tompkins play bumper cars, and then their tangled legs inadvertendly skewing the ball towards the South African line.
Rees-Zammit rushes on to it, collects after a welcome hop and dashes across the line for his second score. Dan Biggar’s conversion makes Wales’ lead all the prettier - and Loftus Versfeld falls silent.
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