Springboks overwhelm Wales 43-17 in Bloemfontein

Rugby World champions South Africa beat Six Nations winners Wales 43-17 in the first Test in Bloemfontein today to hand new Springboks coach Peter de Villiers a winning start.

Despite starting with just five members of the side that won the World Cup last year in Paris, the Springboks overwhelmed Wales with four tries to two and fed off numerous mistakes as flyhalf Butch James kicked five penalties and four conversions in a faultless kicking display.

The Springboks used up-and-unders to keep the Welsh under pressure and induce errors, before opening up in the second half and using the perfect conditions for running rugby.

The South African forwards regularly crossed the gain line with ball in hand, allowing fullback Conrad Jantjes, centre Jean de Villiers, number eight Pierre Spies and replacement centre Percy Montgomery the space to score tries.

Wales replied with tries by fullback Jamie Roberts and a fine individual effort by wing Shane Williams, with flyhalf Stephen Jones kicking a penalty and a conversion and his replacement, James Hook, also succeeding with a conversion.

But Wales were always shackled by their failure to get momentum with ball in hand and the Springboks were in control throughout.