Wales pointless in seven-try defeat by South Africa
South Africa scored seven tries in a bonus-point victory over Wales to maintain their unbeaten start to the Nations Championship. Jasper Wiese, scrum-halves Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies, centre Jesse. . .
South Africa scored seven tries in a bonus-point victory over Wales to maintain their unbeaten start to the Nations Championship. Jasper Wiese, scrum-halves Cobus Reinach and Herschel Jantjies, centre Jesse Kriel, flanker Paul de Villiers and wingers Jaco Williams and Kurt-Lee Arendse all scored tries in the 43-0 victory. However, it was not error-free and despite the Springboks dominance they spurned several opportunities to pile up a bigger score. AdvertisementWales failed to score a point against South Africa for the second Test in a row after suffering a 73-0 defeat last year. South Africa handed debuts to four players and rested several regulars, with 20-year-old Vusi Moyo impressing at fly-half as coach Rassie Erasmus continued to grow his player pool. More to follow. . . 06:48pm‘It’s not the scoreline we wanted’ says Wales coach Steve TandySteve Tandy is happy enough with the showing, but told ITV he wants to improve. AdvertisementHe said: “It’s not the scoreline we wanted. “There’s a lot of young boys out there who showed a lot of fight. We probably had a couple of plays where we could have put some points on the board. It shows at this level how far we have to go. “These experiences are painful but you’ve got to take the learnings. ”06:42pmFixtures set for November restartThe tournament restarts in November for the next round. For South Africa, they travel to Turin on Saturday, November 7 to play Italy. The Springboks will be heavy favourites once more. AdvertisementThe same day, Wales host Japan in Cardiff and they will be hoping for a restorative victory there. 06:38pmCaptain Dewi Lake - ‘Massively proud’After last November’s absolute tonking, Lake told ITV he saw plenty of improvements. He said: “I’m massively proud of the boys. That might surprise a lot of people but you compare that performance to the [last] performance against the Boks. There’s a stark difference for us. “I think this group has gone from strength to strength. You can see in the last six months the gains we’ve made, and we’re only going to get better. Advertisement“Physicality, I think we had it in areas, but we weren’t consistent with it. ”06:33pmMan of the match Paul de Villiers - ‘We wanted to bring our physicality’Speaking to ITV Sport, he said: “Paul de Villiers: “I think you can see in our faces we wanted to bring our physicality. “We did in the set pieces, in the carries, and in our defence. The ball was a bit wet which cost us in our execution. ”06:27pmFULL TIME: South Africa 43 Wales 0South Africa win comfortably without ever looking close to their best. AdvertisementWales manage to come away with a one-sided defeat which really could have been much worse if the hosts were on top of their game. The visitors were on the back foot from the opening minutes, and the first half saw them utterly dominated by a powerful Springboks side. The second half was much the same except Wales grew ever more ragged, leading to a yellow card which ended their hopes of getting even a point or two. Simphiwe Moyo’s kicking impressed before he was replaced, and Jaco Williams looks dangerous on the wing. There was no real weak link for the home side, but they will be disappointed that repeated poor handling gave up so many chances to add to their tally. They end the three fixtures in the Southern Hemisphere by topping the table until we pick this back up in the Autumn. AdvertisementWales sit in fifth in their group. 06:26pmKey moments79 minutes: South Africa 43 Wales 0 - TRYThey have that seventh. Another maul powers them over the line through De Villiers. The win means they will top their group after the first run of fixtures. Libbok converts at his third attempt. 06:24pm79 minutes: South Africa 36 Wales 0South Africa search for their seventh try. Mee’s dreadful handling gives them a lineout in the corner. 06:23pm77 minutes: South Africa 36 Wales 0Willemse picks up a loose ball from Hawkins’ crossfield kick after Mee’s miskick, and skips forward until he knocks on. 06:21pm75 minutes: South Africa 36 Wales 0Reuben Morgan-Williams is on for Tomos Williams. South Africa are offside and Wales kick long. AdvertisementWales are penalised as they fail to release, but they are back to 15 players now, at least. 06:18pm74 minutes: South Africa 36 Wales 0A couple more minutes for Wales to survive down to 14. 06:17pm71 minutes: South Africa 36 Wales 0South Africa are relentless now as they drive forward, and Libbok hits it high for his team to chase. Nine minutes remaining after Wales knock on from that kick. 06:15pmKey moments69 minutes: South Africa 36 Wales 0 - TRYArendse gets the ball over the line as Springboks move the ball quickly to the left wing to take advantage of the space. Libbok misses his second of the match. AdvertisementDillon Lewis is back on for Ben Thomas as they adjust to the yellow. That yellow is confirmed as not upgraded to a red. 06:12pm66 minutes: South Africa 31 Wales 0Fans in the stadium are invited to celebrate Mandela Day. On the pitch, another scrum. Reffell replaces Mann. 06:09pm66 minutes: South Africa 31 Wales 0The tackle is ruled as high and dangerous, and Warren has been sent into the sin bin with a yellow. 06:09pm65 minutes: South Africa 31 WalesThere’s a TMO review as Warren met Van Staden high earlier in the match. It might be shoulder first into the Bok’s face. 06:07pmKey momentsAdvertisement63 minutes: South Africa 31 Wales - TRYJantjies has another for his side, and his sixth for South Africa so far. Williams receives the ball inside from Williams . Libbock misses the conversion. 06:05pm63 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0A lineout for South Africa leads to a maul, and the power over the line only for Wales to hold up their opponents and prevent a fifth try. 06:03pm61 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Fassi replaced by Willemse. Wales collapse the scrum and South Africa press on with the advantage in their pocket. Wales are in their last few yards as they defend obdurately for now. South Africa spill the ball with De Villiers, and they have their penalty. Advertisement06:01pm59 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Williams reaches a high ball on the right which was somehow not intercepted. He slings the ball inside to Kriel, who mishandles and kicks the ball out of play. Wales are warned over the state of their offsides so far, and they’re on their last warning. 05:59pm58 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Both sides are struggling with their handline. A lineout for South Africa gives both sides the chance to dry their hands. AdvertisementJaco Williams - Johan Rynners/Getty Images05:57pm57 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Wales clear deep and Fassi comes forward. They keep the ball moving to the right win and back inside, with short runs and shorter passes. Fassi’s attempted assist down into the corner misreads the situation, and Wales have it back. 05:55pm54 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Van Staden replace Wiese for South Africa. Warren replaces Lewis for Wales. 05:53pm52 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Jantjies is on for Reinach in response to recent struggles. AdvertisementBotham replaced Wainwright a few minutes back, too. 05:51pm50 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Wales are enjoying their best spell of the match as the home side are losing their discipline. Five penalties conceded this half already and they are cruising for a yellow. Wales let the pressure off when they fail to release. Nevertheless, the referee lectures South Africa about their poor efforts with the rules. 05:48pm48 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Wessels replaces Steenekamp, Louw on for Sadie, Dixon on for Wiese. AdvertisementThree changes for South Africa. 05:47pm47 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Wales are kicking better and retaining the ball when they reach it. It’s a better start for Wales despite that early concession. Van Heerden concedes a penalty. 05:45pm45 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Botham kicks out to the right wing. A lineout for them goes well as they send the ball out to the left but some solid South African defence keeps them held up for now. 05:43pm43 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0Three changes made at half time for the visitors. Advertisement05:42pmKey moments42 minutes: South Africa 26 Wales 0 - TRYWilliams scores on his debut. A clearance is high, nowhere from Wales. The Boks claim, play two short passes with Wiese finding Williams out to the wing for him to put down in the corner. Moyo converts. 05:41pm41 minutes: South Africa 19 Wales 0Play restarts in Durban. Lake off, and there are more changes for me to discern. 05:37pmSecond half awaitsWe’re a few minutes from the restart now, with South Africa looking well set to add to their score, and Wales looking a little desperate. AdvertisementSouth Africa celebrate - Steve Haag/Getty Images05:31pmWales need something moreSouth Africa have not given Wales a way in for 40 minutes. They should have made more of their advantage, but there may be a sense of laziness given the lack of opposition they are facing. Jesse Kriel - David Rogers/Getty Images05:29pm‘ITV should really show this match after the watershed’ITV should really show this match after the watershed if they are going to continue to show South Africa demolishing the Wales scrum in this sadistic fashion. Some of those Welsh props have families05:25pmHALF-TIME: South Africa 19 Wales 0Wales will feel like they got away with one there, even if they conceded three tries. AdvertisementSouth Africa dominated territory, but gave up the ball regularly with handling errors. Wales have found no way through to create any meaningful chances. Both coaches will be disappointed they did not get more from their players so far. 05:24pmKey moments40 minutes: South Africa 19 Wales 0 - TRYLewis flagged again. The horn sounds, but South Africa have an advantage as they push for the corner. Moyo sends in a crossfield kick and Kriel claims the spill for the try. They finally have their breakthrough. Moyo misses. Advertisement05:22pm39 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Lewis is offside for Wales, and South Africa kick to touch with Moyo. It’s probably the last chance to add a score of the half. 05:20pm38 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0The commentators tell me that it is almost two hours of rugby now that Wales have failed to land even a finger - let alone a glove - on South Africa. No points against them in such a long, long stretch. 05:19pm37 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0A lineout for Wales now, and they try a driving maul before quickly finding Thomas out to the wide. Carre overruns the ball when he receives the ball and spills it. Scrum for the home side. 05:17pm35 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Williams overkicks and the South Africans can clear their lines. Murray spots a gap in the corner and kicks deep, and the Welsh will look to force an opportunity here. 05:15pm33 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0South Africa still searching for that third try. AdvertisementCobus Reinach puts the pressure on. - Themba Hadebe/AP05:14pm31 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Du Toit is pulled back on his way for a try for pulling out of a contest. He was only technically offside, but that’s enough. There’s no argument from the player, and Moyo kicks for touch. 05:12pm30 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Mee mishandles a fairly open catch. It’s not too much of an error as you might think. The ball is exceptionally greasy and both sides are making errors. A scrum for the home side now. 05:08pm26 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Lewis comes into a maul from the side and the Springboks have a lineout on the left wing. They try a driving maul but lose to Tomos Williams’ turnover. Advertisement05:06pm24 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0South Africa give up a scrum with a knock-on under pressure from Wainwright. It’s a long, long wait for the scrum to take place, and Wales almost reach the halfway line with the kick from Edwards. 05:04pm23 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Wainwright takes the ball away from a scrum deep under pressure. Wales still have it and Williams clears the line to find touch South Africa’s pressure is relentless, even without the ball. Possession is 50-50, more or less. 05:01pm20 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0Wales are forced back into the 22 again and can’t find touch with a huge clearance. Wiese is denied the chance to punch through, but Mann is penalised for off feet. Moyo finds the corner for a lineout. 04:59pm17 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0South Africa have a knock-on in their favour and then kick long for Morgan to claim before getting absolutely clattered - I think by Steenekamp - with a high tackle. Just a penalty. 04:55pmKey momentsAdvertisement15 minutes: South Africa 14 Wales 0 - TRYA scrum for Wales just a couple of yards from their own tryline. It is demolished by South Africa and it is now their put-in. Reinach picks the ball up, runs around the back of the scrum and darts into gap for a simple try. Wales are struggling. Five tries in five starts for Reinach, and Moyo converts. 04:52pm11 minutes: South Africa 7 Wales 0Moyo encroaches at a lineout and Wales have the chance to kick for their own. They employ a driving maul and spread the ball to the right before they are penalised for not releasing. Moyo kicks for touch again. It’s back and forth, and not the most exciting so fra. 04:50pm9 minutes: South Africa 7 Wales 0An illegal scrum from Wales as they are said to have collapsed the scrum. Moyo clears a decent 50 yards into the corner. 04:48pm8 minutes: South Africa 7 Wales 0Wales are looking for a foundation to build upon, and in slippery conditions, South Africa knock on and Wales have a scrum. 04:46pmKey moments5 minutes: South Africa 7 Wales 0 - TRYWales spill the ball under pressure and Murray is closed down. He does well to keep the ball and Wales are able to clear with Tomos Williams but South Africa come back through the middle with Japser Wiese. He’s stopped at the first attempt, but regains the ball and wriggles through for a try. Moyo converts. 04:44pm3 minutes: South Africa 0 Wales 0Wales fail with two kicks forward and Moyo hoofs his own return far too long. Wales reach touch from within the 22. 04:43pm2 minutes: South Africa 0 Wales 0Thomas is penalised for not moving away, and South Africa kick just past the halfway line. They win the lineout and the driving maul makes progress. 04:41pm1 minute: South Africa 0 Wales 0The match gets underway as Wales kick short and keep the ball. 04:39pmThe Welsh anthemThe team joined in with gusto. The game is seconds away now. 04:37pmTwo sides observe national anthemsFans in the stadium are intermingled and capable of respecting the anthems of their own country, and of their opponent. Anyway, England vs France in the World Cup later. 04:33pmTeams come out of the dressing roomThe teams are now filing out onto the pitch. 04:31pmThe moment Wales arrivedWe’re moments from the national anthems. 04:24pmWilliams out on the pitchTomos Williams is warming his hands up ahead of the match this evening. We’re 15 minutes from kick-off, so these are the last moments to get sharp. Tomos Williams - Johan Rynners/Getty Images04:17pmSouth Africa go through the motionsThe home side are practising their lineouts ahead of kick-off. Wales struggled against Argentina in set-pieces, so we could see them on the back foot again if South Africa dominate from touch. South Africa practise their lineouts - Steve Haag/Getty Images04:13pmScotland win in FijiIt was something of a struggle, but Scotland have won 33-17 against Fiji in their final match of this round, before we return for the Northern Hemisphere leg. 04:07pmWales win the coin tossThey have chosen to kick-off at the start of the match, and will hope for some early pressure. 04:00pmSouth Africa fans gather in DurbanKings Park in Durban is the venue for the match today, and supporters of both sides are already there in decent numbers. Springboks fans in Durban. - Johan Rynners/Getty Images03:53pmWales team restatedWith the late selection of Ellis Mee, the Welsh X account has confirmed the XV. 03:49pmWales are hereThe players are getting used to the pitch and will be warming up ahead of kick-off, at 4:40pm. Wales players arrive. - Johan Rynners/Getty Images03:42pmSouth Africa arrive in DurbanThe Springboks are here and will be warming up soon. Franco Mostert arrives. - Steve Haag/Getty Images03:36pmWales shuffle their packSteve Tandy has reshuffled his pack, introducing Teddy Williams to the second row and Alex Mann at blindside flanker to inject freshness into the forward battle. The backline undergoes a more drastic overhaul, where only Tomos Williams, and Blair Murray retain their positions from the Argentina clash. The high-profile return of Louis Rees-Zammit out wide and Dan Edwards at fly-half gives the Red Dragons a much-needed injection of electric pace and tactical kicking variety. Supported by a robust bench featuring James Botham and Joe Hawkins, Wales are banking on agility and tactical discipline to disrupt South Africa’s formidable rhythm. 03:29pmKey momentsWales line-upWales starting line-up:15. Blair Murray, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. Max Llewellyn, 12. Ben Thomas, 11. Ellis Mee, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Rhys Carre, 2. Dewi Lake, 3. Dillon Lewis, 4. Teddy Williams, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Alex Mann, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Aaron Wainwright. Replacements:16. Ryan Elias, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Ben Warren, 19. Freddie Thomas, 20. Tommy Reffell, 21. James Botham, 22. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 23. Joe Hawkins. 03:25pmSpringboks opt for rotationThe Springboks have opted for rotation, keeping only lock Cobus Wiese and captain Pieter-Steph du Toit in the tight five and back row respectively. Heavy hitters like Malcolm Marx and Jasper Wiese return to anchor a powerful pack, alongside youthful talent like Paul de Villiers. In the backline, Aphelele Fassi and Jesse Kriel provide consistency, while rising star Vusi Moyo pairs up with Cobus Reinach at halfback. Erasmus has a bench with versatile game-changers, including Damian Willemse and Manie Libbok, ensuring the Springboks maintain tactical flexibility and physical intensity for the full eighty minutes. 03:20pmKey momentsSouth Africa line-upSouth Africa starting line-up:15. Aphelele Fassi, 14. Jaco Williams, 13. Jesse Kriel, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10. Vusi Moyo, 9. Cobus Reinach; 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Malcolm Marx, 3. Carlu Sadie, 4. Cobus Wiese, 5. Ruben van Heerden, 6. Paul de Villiers, 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (c), 8. Jasper Wiese. Replacements:16. Andre-Hugo Venter, 17. Jan-Hendrick Wessels, 18. Wilco Louw, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Marco van Staden, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Manie Libbok, 23. Damian Willemse. 02:56pmSouth Africa the team to beatWelcome toTelegraph Sport’slive coverage of South Africa vs Wales. Following two rounds of Nations Championship action, South Africa have firmly established themselves as the team to beat ahead of November’s fixtures. The Springboks followed up their opening-weekend triumph over England with a commanding 42-28 victory against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld, pulling away late in the game. that result took Rassie Erasmus’s squad at the summit of the Southern Hemisphere standings, holding a slim points-difference edge over New Zealand, though they have now dropped to second. Remarkably, that win extends South Africa’s undefeated streak to 11 matches, with their last loss dating back to September against the All Blacks. Up next is a clash with a struggling Welsh team, whom the Springboks have defeated in five consecutive meetings. Wales, conversely, entered the inaugural tournament aiming for redemption after finishing last in the Six Nations for the third year running. Their campaign started strong with a bonus-point 39-24 home win over Fiji, fuelled by a dominant second-half performance. However, momentum stalled over the weekend following a tough 35-21 defeat against Argentina in Buenos Aires. Under Steve Tandy’s guidance, the Red Dragons currently sit fifth in the Northern Hemisphere table. While they remain above Italy, they trail England on points difference, with Steve Borthwick’s side holding a significant 42-point advantage. Facing the world champions this weekend presents a daunting challenge, and Wales are heavy underdogs. Nevertheless, they can draw confidence from past success, having secured a tight 13-12 victory over the Springboks in Japan just over four years ago. While repeating that feat will require a monumental effort, it proves that Tandy’s men possess the blueprint to upset Saturday’s formidable opponents if everything clicks into place.