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

(REUTERS)

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 vs Wales

• Wales have beaten the Springboks in South Africa for the first time in their history
• FULL-TIME! South Africa 12-13 Wales
• 78’ - CONVERSION! Anscombe nails the touchline conversion to put Wales ahead! (12-13)
• 77’ - TRY! Adams scores in the corner to move Wales within a point. Conversion to come (12-11)
• 67’ - PENALTY! Anscombe narrows the gap for Wales (12-6)
• 60’ - PENALTY! Pollard moves South Africa more than a score ahead after a baffling AWJ sin-bin (12-3)
• HALF-TIME! South Africa 3-3 Wales
• Wales face South Africa in the second Test in Bloemfontein

[9 July 2022 16:30 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 20 minutes

Both sides engage in a spell of kick tennis, Warrick Gelant’s attempt to end it with an adventure across the field by a useful grasp of the shirt from Dan Lydiate.

Back to the air, Liam Williams collecting well in the air. Wales’ Kieran Hardy box-kicks up the left, and Handre Pollard knocks into touch.

Hang on, we are checking something - TMO Brett Cronan has called down to look at a tackle from Ryan Elias. No contact to the head, and a clear wrap - on we will go with no sanction.

[9 July 2022 16:27 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Missed penalty! South Africa 3-3 Wales, 18 minutes

He cannot. This is even more cleanly struck than Biggar’s but the sat nav is set similarly incorrectly - off-line, again to the right. Three apiece it remains.

[9 July 2022 16:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 17 minutes

Yes, plenty of strapping on Adams’ knee, which isn’t ideal. He may have to play more than an hour here.

Wales penalised at the scrum. Can Handre Pollard succeed from long range where Dan Biggar failed?

[9 July 2022 16:26 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 16 minutes

A free-kick to Wales at the scrum with hooker Joseph Dweba not getting the placement of his ‘brake foot’ right. Kieran Hardy taps and sends to his outside backs, but South Africa are up quickly and shut down any thoughts of pretty patterns in open space.

Strong defence from the Springboks. Handre Pollard and Jaden Hendrikse fill the 13 channel well as a looping Dan Biggar tries to arc around the outside, Biggar fumbling and given a stiff tickling of the ribs by Andre Esterhuizen for his trouble as he knocks on.

And Alex Cuthbert is trudging off! A blow for Wales with the wing unable to continue after taking a bang. Josh Adams is on - Wales restored to the 15 men who started the opening encounter of the series, though the suggestion has been that Adams is not fully fit.

[9 July 2022 16:22 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 14 minutes

Warrick Gelant is having some difficulties in the air. Alex Cuthbert again gets a disruptive arm in as Gelant tries to gather the latest ball tumbling from the heavens, forcing a knock-on.

[9 July 2022 16:21 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

Missed penalty! South Africa 3-3 Wales, 13 minutes

Hmm. Dan Biggar had the distance, but not the direction - it sails by, to the right of the posts. That’s a reasonably poor miss by his standards.

[9 July 2022 16:20 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 11 minutes

Both sides are weighting their contestable kicks well, Wales winning an aerial challenge on this occasion.

Joseph Dweba hurries up and makes a tackle on a Welsh player with empty hands. The hooker is penalised, and Dan Biggar will look to push Wales back in front from just short of halfway.

[9 July 2022 16:18 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 9 minutes

Wales return with a kick of their own and then Warrick Gelant is off on another merry scamper, looking full of threat as he wanders to the left. His forward stab is deflected into touch by a Welsh boot.

One can South Africa work from the lineout? Joseph Dweba collects at the back of the maul and pops for Andre Esterhuizen, but that is outstanding from Tommy Reffell! The Welsh openside combines with a teammate to quell the mighty centre’s charge and then bounces to his feet to jackal superbly and win the penalty.

[9 July 2022 16:16 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 8 minutes

Another ruck error from Wales, granting South Africa the ball after an initial charge up the left from Alex Cuthbert.

Liam Williams puts Jesse Kriel on his backside with a firm-but-fair dump tackle, but South Africa look calmer in possession than a week ago.

That’s another good involvement from Jaden Hendrikse, kicking first to compete, allowing a teammate to win the ball back, and then for territory, pushing a kick beyond the Welsh backfield.

[9 July 2022 16:15 · Harry Latham-Coyle]

South Africa 3-3 Wales, 7 minutes

The Toyto Stadium surface does not appear in ideal nick, particularly around the halfway line, rutted, discoloured and generally look a little worse for wear.

South Africa turn over Welsh possession with a typically physical counter-ruck, but the backs’ handling is off the mark on this occassion, and the ball bounces into touch.