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 7-19 England, 40 minutes
England are awarded a breakdown penalty on halfway as Australia rush through prematurely on a ball not yet deemed out...
But Owen Farrell is over-ambitious as he seeks the corner, and Australia send everyone down the tunnel by booting the ball for the stands.
Australia 7-19 England, 39 minutes
Eek! Maro Itoje races down to tackle Hunter Paisami after the kick-off, but is sent tumbling away from the centre, his head colliding with Paisami’s shoulder. There is no foul play, but Itoje hits the deck hard, perhaps even knocked out in the collision.
He will, at the very least, require a head injury assessment, but like Jordan Petaia early on, we may not see him again. If he did lose conciousness, as he appears to on the replay, there is no doubt - that will be Itoje done, most likely for the tour.
Ollie Chessum comes on.
TRY! AUSTRALIA 7-19 England (Taniela Tupou try, 37 minutes)
And there is the try! Credit this one to the front-rowers, Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou earning the scrum penalty and then prominent in England’s 22.
Hunter Paisami’s abrasive carry is excellent, but it is Bell and Tupou who are top of the props, first the deceptively shifty Bell shimmying into space and then a rather more forthright Tupou providing the telling bash on the England’s door.
Noah Lolesio pops over the conversion.
Australia 0-19 England, 35 minutes
An Australia penalty at the scrum! Will Stuart is called for dropping his bind, harshly, according to scrummaging expert David Flatman in the commentary booth.
Australia kick into the English 22, rather needing a score.
Australia 0-19 England, 33 minutes
Australia are restored to 15 players as Noah Lolesio restarts things.
England’s kicking game has been outstanding so far. Their 19th of the half is another to be contested, Jack Nowell beating Marika Koroibete to win it back for the visitors, though Will Stuart’s hands are not secure as he stoops in an attempt to tidy up the loose pieces.
PENALTY! Australia 0-19 ENGLAND (Owen Farrell penalty, 32 minutes)
Three more points to Farrell’s tally. England in complete control.
Australia 0-16 England, 31 minutes
A minute or so left on Izaia Perese’s sin-binning as Jamie George this time hits his target at the tail. England’s maul gets a-moving once more - Australia halt the drive’s progress illegally. Penalty to England - Owen Farrell will kick for goal.
Australia 0-16 England, 30 minutes
It feels like Australia are clinging on here. Again England ask them to turn and retreat with a kick into the corner, the Wallabies just about clearing.
The defensive lineout continues to function well, though. Matt Philip again is the hoisted player, tapping the ball back towards Nic White, but the scrum-half can’t collect. Into touch it bounces ten metres on from the position of the first lineout, from where England will go again.
Australia 0-16 England, 28 minutes
The kick again brings joy for England! Marcus Smith is going to his boot early and often in phase play - this is not quite what he intended, the ball bouncing from the face of Angus Bell, but the bounce of the ball is favouring England, and Sam Underhill collects.
Into the 22 the flanker goes, offloading to Jamie George. What chances present themselves to the right? Few. Jack Nowell is chopped down by Hunter Paisami, covering across well with his lumberjack’s axe.
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