Wales v South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after Springboks condemn hosts to winless year
Follow all the action from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as Wales try to pull off a huge upset and avoid a winless 2024
Wales were condemned to the ignominy of a winless 2024 as world champions South Africa proved much too good for Warren Gatland’s embattled side.
The hosts have looked completely bereft of confidence and belief as their losing streak has reached a record-breaking 11 games and they never felt likely to challenge a Springboks side who concluded an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series. There were signs of fight in the Welsh ranks, with Jac Morgan and others standing up impressively to the visitors’ physicality, but the final scoreline was predictably one-sided as South Africa ran in seven tries.
Gatland has looked like something of a broken man at points over the last year and questions about his job security have hugely increased following the historically bad past 12 months, with a real chance that he may leave before the Six Nations begins in February.
Re-live all the action from Cardiff in our live blog below:
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Wales 5-38 South Africa, 66 minutes
Just not quite accurate enough from Wales, knocking on seven metres or so from the line. Josh Hathaway then gets a cheer as he gets low to lift Siya Kolisi up a la Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing, giving the Springboks captain a bit more of a bumpy landing than enjoyed by Jennifer Gray received. It counts for nothing, of course, with that earlier Welsh spill giving South Africa a scrum.
Wales 5-38 South Africa, 64 minutes
Just over 67,000 fans in, a vast improvement on last week’s rather disappointing figure. The Welsh fans have given it their all and might need to lift the noise again to get their struggling side through this last quarter.
Cheslin Kolbe is dumped rather uncomfortable in a tip tackle but the whistle had gone a while beforehand for a Springboks’ infringement. Into the South Africa 22 the hosts kick.
TRY! Wales 5-38 SOUTH AFRICA (Gerhard Steenekamp, 63 minutes)
Punch and power and over the Springboks go!
It was, sadly, inevitable, Welsh forwards who have fronted up physically so well in their 22 at times just unable to repel the green wave. Gerhard Steenekamp provides the telling rumble from short range.
Wales 5-31 South Africa, 61 minutes
Karl Dickson blows his whistle again as the Welsh front row struggle to combat the Springboks scrum. Unsurprisingly, they opt to pack down once more, but not before their bench has been emptied - Marco van Staden and Cobus Reinach are the last two South Africa replacements to be used.
Wales 5-31 South Africa, 59 minutes
Not ideal - Welsh scrum feed results in a South Africa penalty, and down into the home 22 the world champions go. An effective maul sack will ensure the Springboks have to play away from the lineout drive, with Handre Pollard a somewhat unlikely crash ball option.
Penalty again to the visitors, and they are delighted to be able to call Wales in for a scrum six metres from the try line. Ryan Elias replaces Dewi Lake.
Wales 5-31 South Africa, 57 minutes
Three changes for Wales. Tommy Reffell is on for Will Rowlands, sparking a bit of a back five shuffle with Christ Tshiunza back into the second row. Max Llewellyn steps out as Owen Watkin takes his place, while Rhodri Williams replaces Ellis Bevan, who has gone pretty well at the base against a side so adept at hustling scrum halves.
TRY! Wales 5-31 SOUTH AFRICA (Aphelele Fassi, 55 minutes)
But the Springboks strike in the broken field!
They really are a team for all seasons. Wales never quite set themselves defensively having traipsed up after Murray’s clearing kick, and Kurt-Lee Arendse has the sharpness of hands, feet and thought to capitalise. A delicate dummy is nonetheless deceptive enough to fool two defenders and send the wing scuttling through a gap, with a well-timed pass putting Aphelele Fassi in at a canter.
Wales 5-26 South Africa, 54 minutes
A rare error in contact from Jasper Wiese, fumbling forward and thumping the floor after he knocks on. Blair Murray boots upfield.
Wales 5-26 South Africa, 53 minutes
And that proves even more costly as the Springboks flip the field. Jesse Kriel’s massive tackle jars the ball free in midfield before Dewi Lake tries a rather optimistic chip and chase, the hooker well beaten in the speed stakes. South Africa’s kick is rather better and Josh Hathaway slices out on the full under pressure.
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