South Africa vs Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Josh Adams try and Gareth Anscombe conversion make history
Follow all the reaction from Bloemfontein as Wales beat the Springboks on South African soil for the first time
Replacement fly half Gareth Anscombe kicked a late conversion from the touchline as Wales claimed their first ever away victory in South Africa with an error-strewn 13-12 success over a much-changed Springboks at the Free State Stadium.
Wing Josh Adams crossed for the only try of the game with two minutes left on the clock, leaving Anscombe with a difficult conversion to win the game, but he landed the ball through the centre of the posts to make history for Wayne Pivac’s side.
Stand-in captain Handre Pollard kicked four penalties for a Boks side that had 14 changes in their starting XV from the first test win and never found any fluency in a game where they mostly dominated territory until the final 10 minutes.
The third and deciding test in the series will be played in Cape Town next Saturday.
Follow all the reaction below with our live blog:
Australia 17-22 England, 57 minutes
The reason Frost is on the field is another injury worry for Australia - it’s last week’s debutant Cadeyrn Neville, and it looks another potentially serious one, Neville unable to continue and carted off.
Sam Underhill has departed, too, after taking a bang to the head. Lewis Ludlam in the England defensive line as Australia launch again from the lineout.
Australia 17-22 England, 57 minutes
Luke Cowan-Dickie is on the field and performs his duties well, allowing Jack van Poortvliet to clear long after a safe lineout.
But this is beginning to feel familiar for England. James O’Connor threatens to crack their kick chase wide open as he counter-attacks, while Samu Kerevi is again growing in influence, making metres up the left. Another penalty the Wallabies’ way - kicked again to the corner.
Before the lineout, a debut for Nick Frost in the Australian second row. No sign of Simon Pegg.
Australia 17-22 England, 55 minutes
Momentum is very much with Australia now. Nic White is beginning to take jurisdiction over this contest, producing an outstanding diagonal kick from halfway, punching air with delight as Tommy Freeman fails to hurry back and keep it in the field of play.
50:22? Not quite! White argues the toss but the tackled player at the ruck after which he kicked is ruled to be just inside the England half. A marginal call, but a big one - England will have the lineout throw.
PENALTY! AUSTRALIA 17-22 England (Noah Lolesio penalty, 54 minutes)
Noah Lolesio bisects the posts. Australia close the gap.
YELLOW CARD! Marcus Smith is sent to the sin bin! Australia 14-22 England, 53 minutes
England are wobbling - again! An extended hand from Marcus Smith as he shoots from the line to try and stop a flat Australan pass. A clear deliberate knock-on and off he is sent for a stint on the naughty step.
Australia 14-22 England, 52 minutes
Angus Bell’s rear end would have made little imprint upon the bench - he’s back into action with Sio guided off.
Australia beginning to build back into the contest. Rob Leota arrives from deep, gathering speed up the runway, grabbing Nic White’s floated pop as he takes off into Ollie Chessum and Sam Underhill.
The England pair handle Leota, but Underhill then curiously rips the ball free from the Australian’s hand having failed to re-take his feet. Australia again deep into English territory after kicking the penalty down towards the 22.
Australia 14-22 England, 51 minutes
Changes in the Australian front row - Scott Sio and James Slipper replace Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou.
More injury woe, though, for the Wallabies - moments after coming on, Sio fails to get up swiftly from a collision with the sharp bits (knee, hip) of both Will Stuart and Sam Underhill’s lower limbs.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 14-22 England (Samu Kerevi try, 48 minutes)
Space on the left and Samu Kerevi scores! Another meaty carry from Taniela Tupou, brushing off Marcus Smith and condensing the England defence.
Over to the backs with a two-man overlap, and Noah Lolesio picks his option well, fizzing across the face of James O’Connor to Kerevi, who rounds the bend to make the conversion easier, just about remembering to ground before Smith covers across.
It was a useful little wander in-field, though - over goes the conversion. Much better from the Wallabies.
Australia 7-22 England, 47 minutes
A good initial maul drive from the Wallabies, who then go to close-in carries with five metres left to be gained. Taniela Tupou bristles around the corner with support from Michael Hooper, and then it is the variation - wider to Noah Lolesio, launching Hunter Paisami from his inside shoulder. Advantage coming...
Australia 7-22 England, 45 minutes
Looks of disbelief from the England front row towards Andrew Brace as they are penalised despite getting a nudge on at the scrum - but this time, it looks a fair enough call against Will Stuart, losing his bind more certainly than when pinged in the first half. Australia kick into the left-hand corner for their first visit to the England 22 of the half.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments