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:
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 31 minutes
Tommy Reffell is so proficient over the ball. All of Wales’ back-rowers have shown well in this first half-hour, and Reffell and Taulupe Faletau coombine strongly, a double-hit ending Marcell Coetzee’s forward plough with little pasture tilled, and Reffell sharply to his feet to contest for the ball. Another holding on penalty awarded Wales’ way.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 30 minutes
But still South Africa cannot seize this contest despite their territorial advantage! Another dominant South African scrum does not draw a penalty, and Evan Roos is caught by Kieran Hardy, preventing him making a telling bust around the corner. Roos’ place back on his side hits a boot and spills across the floor, where Welsh hands are fastest to it. Dan Biggar kicks away, Wales survive again.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 29 minutes
And that makes Gelant’s prod all the better - Wales try to maul to create space for a clearance, but South African limbs lock around the ball, and it ain’t coming out. Scrum, Springbok feed.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 27 minutes
South Africa get their lineout right now, 40 metres or so back from that initial five-metre throw. Jesse Kriel is just about handled trying to get to the outside of the Welsh defensive line on the left.
To the right, and that’s clever from Warrick Gelant, who does have a good short kicking game - spotting Wales numbered up but short of a man in behind, he grubbers for territory. Over the touchline it trickles five metres out.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 26 minutes
Another free-kick against South Africa at the scrum, this time for an early shove. Wales clear their lines.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 24 minutes
But Joseph Dweba’s throw is not straight! It can be a problem for the hooker, who is bound for the Stormers this summer after a productive two seasons in Bordeaux. It appears he went to throw but was forced to delay by a slow lift of Pieter-Steph du Toit - and in Dweba’s attempt to drive the throw to the flanker, he pushed it off line.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 23 minutes
Purposeful stuff from South Africa, though Wales handle first Evan Roos and then Pieter-Steph du Toit effectively. Marcell Coetzee, the other member of a beefy back row, makes a bit of a dent, and the Welsh defensive line is then ruled to be offside.
Handre Pollard explores a gap, but holds on at the next ruck. Back for the penalty.
That’s three or four offside penalties against Wales now inside their own 22. Referee Angus Gardner warns Dan Biggar of the need for improvement as Handre Pollard opts for...
The corner!
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 22 minutes
Trevor Nyakane has to cram his right foot back into his boot, so there is a pause before the Welsh lineout, taking yet more energy out of a pretty slow game.
And Ryan Elias’ dart hits the wrong double. Not straight, South Africa scrum.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 22 minutes
And that’s not the smartest attacking play from South Africa, getting a nudge on at the scrum to open up a big blindside, but then failing to utilise it. Andre Esterhuizen’s looping miss pass does little for Aphelele Fassi’s prospects of remaining in the field of play. Fassi cannot avoid the embrace of the touchline, grappling as he is with two drifting Welsh defenders.
South Africa 3-3 Wales, 21 minutes
Things have been a little sloppy since that lively opening salvo. Two Welsh carriers over-run Kieran Hardy, forcing the scrum-half to throw a forward pass.
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