Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Wales v South Africa - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - November 23, 2024 South Africa's Jordan Hendrikse scores their seventh try Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
CARDIFF (Reuters) -South Africa scored seven tries as they eased to a 45-12 victory over Wales in their Autumn international clash in Cardiff on Saturday, inflicting a 12th successive defeat on their hosts to put more pressure on coach Warren Gatland.
The contest was more one-sided than the scoreline suggested and only the Springboks’ inaccuracy prevented it from being a real rout for the inexperienced home side.
The world champions scored tries through locks Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth, wing Kurt-Lee Arendse, flanker Elrigh Louw, fullback Aphelele Fassi, prop Gerhard Steenekamp and flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse as they finished their Autumn series with three wins.
Wales have plenty of soul-searching to do before the Six Nations starts in late January as they were forced to make 216 tackles and missed another 46. Wing Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham scored their tries and they trailed 26-5 at the break.
South Africa’s dominance was backed by the statistics, they carried the ball for more than a kilometre (1,066 metres), made 15 line-breaks, pushed Wales off their own ball at the scrum three times and pinched three of the home side’s lineouts.
That they did not make Wales pay more heavily on the scoreboard will be a frustration given they had spoken this week of an ’80-minute’ performance after wins over Scotland and England where they had not been at their best.
"I am grateful for what we have done as a group (on the tour), we had to dig deep and make sure we were up for every game," Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said.
"There is a lot we can still fix, we wanted to finish strong. It has been a good year for the team but there is so much room for improvement.
"They (Wales) are going to grow as a team, it just takes time. They are working hard to turn it around. The world needs a strong Welsh Rugby Union."
Wales would have hoped for a tighter scoreline but given where the two sides are in their development, it was not unexpected and they might have been fearing the worst as South Africa scored three tries in the first 18 minutes.
A rampaging Mostert raced onto a pass to canter over the line early on before the Springboks won the ball at the breakdown with a counter-ruck and Arendse combined with Etzebeth on the left wing.
After incessant Springbok pressure, Arendse’s wicked step inside saw him beat three defenders and add a third try.
Wales twice held South Africa up over the line and Kolisi had a try chalked off for a knock-on earlier in the move, but Louw did get their fourth score as he went over from close range after the Springboks demolished the Welsh scrum.
Wales finally got their hands on the ball on the stroke of halftime and after a succession of pick-and-drives from the forwards, it was swung wide for Dyer to cross in the corner.
The pattern continued in the second period but South African errors meant it was 14 minutes before they scored their fifth try with Arendse the creator for Fassi.
Steenekamp burrowed over for their sixth and Hendrikse, playing alongside scrumhalf brother Jaden, added a final score late on before Botham crossed with the final play of the game.
"We showed a lot of heart and a lot of character in parts of that game," Wales captain Dewi Lake said.
"We're probably just not there yet as a group, discipline in areas has cost us again, they are a dangerous team when they get into that 22 and are tough to stop when they're rolling onto the ball.
"We have to keep the faith, the second we lose our faith in ourselves then it's pointless us stepping on the field, we can definitely see a light at the end of the tunnel."
(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Clare Fallon and Pritha Sarkar)
