Fullback Damian Willemse has kicked a pressure penalty after the hooter to secure South Africa a 32-29 victory over ill-disciplined Wales in a see-saw Test at a raucous Loftus Versfeld.
The tourists took the world champions close on Saturday, but paid for cynical play in their own 22 as they lost four players to yellow cards and conceded a penalty try.
The Springboks were playing in front of spectators at home for the first time in three years because of coronavirus restrictions. The Welsh silenced them early.
They led 18-3 at halftime with the help of two Louis Rees-Zammit tries, and blunted the world champions against all expectations for the first 40 minutes at Loftus Versfeld.
“They stopped our mauls and we couldn’t get going, but the way we came back, that’s what we take pride in,” South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said.
South Africa ground back into the game in the second half through the forward pack, with rolling maul tries from hooker Bongi Mbonambi and his replacement, Malcolm Marx.
Wing Cheslin Kolbe added a third then a penalty try from a lineout maul which was collapsed gave South Africa the lead for the first time in the 75th minute, 29-24.
But Wales, who were down to 12 men at one point with three players in the sin-bin in the final minutes, somehow found enough grit to score from their own rolling maul and force South Africa to scramble desperately for a victory.
Faf de Klerk of the Springboks is tackled by Dan Biggar of Wales. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images)
Former captain Alun Wyn Jones came back from the bin just before the try, but Wales still had only 13 players on the field when replacement forward Dewi Lake drove over in the 77th minute to tie the score at 29-29.
Wales captain Dan Biggar shaved the outside of the right post with his conversion attempt and gave away the critical penalty — an intentional knock down of a pass — to allow Willemse to save the Springboks in the third minute after the fulltime hooter.
“It was a shame they got away with it at the end, because I would have taken a draw,” Wales coach Wayne Pivac said.
“It was a big step up from our last performance but the discipline is clearly disappointing. I’m very proud but very disappointed, it is one that got away.”
“I’m gutted. There was a lot of momentum shifts in that game and we thought we nicked it but it wasn’t to be,” veteran Dan Lydiate said after his first Test in 17 months.
The second of three Tests will be played in Bloemfontein next Saturday with Wales still in search of a first win in South Africa after 11 attempts.
Harry Jones
Expert
I think it was 55 minutes before Am touched the ball.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Fitness takes time, can’t rush it.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Why, oh why do you do something so dumb!
Harry Jones
Expert
I know. Stuck. And you can’t get fit in a week. So, that’s why we had two loose forwards on the bench. SA is winning 2Hs: 24 of the last 26 matches … we are in this slow start rut. Although 3-18 was the biggest hole, yet.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Totally agree with this - its going to take time for them to reestablish the old foundation prior to building on it
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The quarter finals Sharks vs Bulls , Kolisi looked out on his feet by halftime . I actually mentioned that here . His conditioning guys will know where he is at but how do you send him home . It’ll cause a major upheaval .
pm
Roar Rookie
Biggar was at it throughout
pm
Roar Rookie
Lood worked his a@# off all match long.
Darryn
Guest
Problem is its not Eltons last game...Nienaber has already said that he will be better next week for yesterdays outing .
Harry Jones
Expert
Good point on Kolisi who looked utterly shattered on his exit. Not fit? Overall, EE and Lood were doing 2X the work to make up for Siya’s absence at the breakdown.
AndyS
Guest
It is an interesting point. If selecting a lot of players from multiple overseas competitions, do they spend enough time together to improve or advance? Different when they all play locally and that competition evolves, as the players then all take that onto the international stage. But if it is only a few then being mixed with a number, perhaps even a majority, of players playing styles that are developing in other comps, do they all just default back to the last style they all had in common and/or a generic, minimum risk approach?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yes Im not only concerned but disappointed . We were explicitly told by the coaching staff that they had to go Uber conservative for the B&I Lions due to prevailing circumstances , lack of game time etc . SA Rugby is evolving . A new breed of highly athletic , skilled players starting to make their presence felt in domestic rugby but The Bok management yet to embrace this huge asset. Kolbe for example despite his team having 60 % possession confined to a defensive , kick n chase role .
Rusty
Roar Guru
They played like a bunch of guys who just met each other in the park - the downside of having a team scattered across the world. Will definitely be some changes for next week but hopefully not too many as we need the team to gel again
Biltong
Guest
It was a horrendous display from South Africa. Faf de Klerk delivered as little as six quick ruck balls during the entire game, Elton Jantjies was at his worst. De Allende and Am recieved about six possessions between them. There was a complete disconnect betwen forwards and backs which provided no continuity of play. The game was niggly and stop start with no momentum. Wales became more cynical as the match went on and as I have said many times before they have this ability to drag the Springboks into a slugfest. The execution of the half back pairing of the Boks also meant we had no management of territory and possession for periods long enough to sustain pressure pressure. It was a lucky escape no doubt. Hopefully Nienaber gets the team to gel, he should give the younger players an opportunity, Elton is surely done now.
Steve Darke
Guest
This is the exact same team playing the exact same style as RWC in 2019...no improvement or advancement at all. The Boks will be in trouble in France next year I reckon
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
The pre match hype around The Boks was frankly off the charts . The loss of Wales to Italy surely cemented their fate . They apparently did not belong in the same room as The Boks . Reality in short supply tho. Not long ago this Welsh team were 6N champions and the matches they lost this year were close and could have easily gone the other way . They have a positive win record against SA past few years and all their losses to the Boks were by a hairs breath . With an avg of 36 Test caps per player and many Lions players from the last tour no shortage of experience either . Although Nienaber constantly said Boks would not underestimate them it’s impossible for the players not to see media , social media etc and begin to believe in their own superiority A proper wake up call .. still a win though but more importantly a lesson in humility hopefully fully absorbed . Tough calls need to be made around the form of Kolisi and Jantjies too. Why no fetcher flank either . Also where is the evolvement of the game plan Rassie promised 2 years ago . Important questions for sure .
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
It was an ice cold crisp and delicious Amstel draft .. thanks Harry . :stoked:
Steve Darke
Guest
A poor game to watch, despite the close finish. Wales played terribly cynical rugby and were lucky to have just 4 yellows.
Harry Jones
Expert
It was also nice for the Welsh reserve 9 to kick the ball to us with 30 seconds to play. Can’t win in SA without the guts to take it. Wales found a way to give up an 18-3 lead. Only five times in history has Tier One test gone that way with 15+ lead at HT. Monumental comeback or collapse.
Flyman
Roar Rookie
Too true Harry. All the Japanese league players MIA, especially Etzebeth – in fact the whole pack looked underdone. Best player for the Boks was Biggar – he failed to read the ref! That knock down at the end was really dumb.