Wales v South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after Springboks condemn hosts to winless year
Wales 12-45 South Africa: The hosts were comfortably beaten to prompt renewed questions over Warren Gatland’s future
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:
TRY! Wales 0-19 SOUTH AFRICA (Kurt-Lee Arendse, 20 minutes)
No they cannot!
Swift, accurate hands from the Springboks grant Kurt-Lee Arendse a sliver of space - and that’s all the lively wing needs, like a wasp buzzing between would-be Welsh tacklers and providing the try-scoring sting. Jordan Hendrikse adds the extras.
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 19 minutes
A solid set-piece drill from South Africa, but Wales’ maul defence has been strong so far. Can they hold firm elsewhere as the Springboks spread it...?
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 17 minutes
Wales kick short, somewhat surprisingly, and South Africa can launch another offensive into the home 22. Cheslin Kolbe and Eben Etzebeth work a classic small-man, big-man combination to threaten, but it is back for another penalty they come after the attack runs aground.
No change in strategy - to the corner to see if the Springboks maul can get on the march.
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 15 minutes
Held up! Siya Kolisi wrestles out of a tackle and keeps his legs pumping, but that’s outstanding scrambling from Jac Morgan and James Botham, locking around the ball to prevent the Springboks skipper from grounding. Goalline dropout.
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 15 minutes
Just about stalemate, the officials conclude, as the first scrum hits the deck. Referee Karl Dickson orders a reset.
Stable and steady and away Jasper Wiese goes in search of a third Springboks score.
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 14 minutes
Welsh hands disrupt the lineout well, though a knock on in the air will bring about the game’s first scrum. It was perhaps the only area where Wales went well against the Wallabies - though this is a significantly tougher challenge, one would suggest.
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 13 minutes
Two penalties against the hosts allow the Springboks to march deep into Welsh territory. And there’s another advantage coming...
South Africa will take it gladly. Jordan Hendrikse prods his forwards into the corner once more.
Wales 0-12 South Africa, 11 minutes
A worrying period for Wales now. Eddie James is on early, with Sam Costelow off for an HIA - Ben Thomas will presumably slide across to fly half, where he was stationed on the tour of Austraalia in the summer.
TRY! Wales 0-12 SOUTH AFRICA (Eben Etzebeth, 9 minutes)
Anything Mostert can do, his lock partner can do better!
Two tries in a matter of moments! Wales are dispossed on their own ten-metre line by a vicious Springboks counter-ruck and trouble is brewing as soon as prop Thomas du Toit plucks the ball. Eben Etzebeth first frees Kurt-Lee Arendse before showing off seriously impressive speed to stay with the wing, taking his inside pass to stride in.
TRY! Wales 0-7 SOUTH AFRICA (Franco Mostert, 6 minutes)
Scintillating from the Springboks!
What rugby! It starts with Kurt-Lee Arendse’s work in the air, the dimunitive wing getting up to claim superbly and then bumping off a tackler. He is felled but Wales are short of number as South Africa use the width on the right, Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi and co. thundering on. Cheslin Kolbe cuts inward at the right time to keep the ball in play and readily available, and lumbering lock Franco Mostert then hits a dreamy line back against the grain to finish it off. Over goes the conversion.
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