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:
H/T: South Africa 3-3 Wales
An update on Alex Cuthbert - the Wales wing’s arm is in a sling after leaving the field in pain early on. Given the amount of strapping around Josh Adams’ knee, you do wonder how fit he really is. South Africa may look to target that left wing in the second half.
It should be noted that the Springboks have kept their trademark 6-2 bench split despite all of the changes. There are three potential debutants among the six forwards, and plenty of beef, which I imagine we will be seeing at some point reasonably soon after the restart.
H/T: South Africa 3-3 Wales
South Africa are clearly targeting the Welsh lineout, which is bringing some joy, while they’ve had a slight edge at scrum-time, too. But all of those changes are perhaps hurting them - it’s just been a half-beat off from the Springboks in all facets, with plenty of frustrating inaccuracies.
Wales, meanwhile, are keeping the ball in play and contesting in the air when they can - again, it is working to some extent, but they are really short of gainline wins in attack, which is preventing them building any momentum on the back of it.
H/T: South Africa 3-3 Wales
Not a great deal to report from that half. South Africa are clearly on top and playing in the right areas but both sides are making errors rather too regularly, which has prevented this encounter from developing any sort of flow or fizz. The attacks have been clunky, the defences tight, and each kicker has missed from the tee - not the best first 40 minutes, all told.
HALF TIME! SOUTH AFRICA 3-3 WALES
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 40 minutes
Evan Roos thinks he is off on a gallop to the line as he gathers yet another dropped ball, but there are South African hands involved in it hitting the deck. Roos smiles as he trots back - knock-on South Africa, Welsh scrum.
Wales win a penalty at the scrum, but Dan Biggar has seen quite enough of a rather unattractive half of rugby. Tapped and chipped into the first row - off down the tunnel for the half-time oranges.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 39 minutes
Another chance to attack for South Africa; another rather atypical error. Wales are managing to stymie early in the phases and this much-changed Springboks side is appearing to lose shape thereafter. It is Andre Esterhuizen this time fumbling forward.
Still it remains 3-3 with the halftime hooter soon to sound.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 37 minutes
The untidiness from both sides continue. The ball breaks from the back of a Welsh ruck after good work from Warrick Gelant, and Joseph Dweba sets off on a rampage up the right, boshing back Dan Biggar who opted to go high.
Dweba places back but finds support lacking, allowing BIggar to nip around the corner and snatch it from the hooker’s outstretched arms. Biggar is driven into touch.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 35 minutes
That’s better from Wales! The running game hasn’t got going so it is to the boot that Dan Biggar goes, lifting a lovely crossfield kick that Louis Rees-Zammit tidily flicks back infield to an onrushing Liam Willliams.
South Africa react swiftly to get across to Williams, who is again forced to kick, ball once more brushing the white line on the hop.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 34 minutes
Wales play to the open spaces on the left, but South Africa haven’t really been troubled defensively so far. Liam Williams is forced to kick, and it skips into touch.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 33 minutes
Better mauling from Wales, advancing beyond the halfway line. Kieran Hardy puts too much mustard on his box kick, allowing Aphelele Fassi to claim a mark without a Welsh body troubling him.
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