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FULL-TIME

24 22

South Africa

Internationals | Cardiff

14:30 (GMT) | 02-12-2017

81	Stay tuned for Rugby 365's live commentary of Pro 14 round 10 as the Cheetahs host the Scarlets in Bloemfontein coming up shortly.
80	Bongi Mbonambi finds Steven Kitshoff with an accurate throw to the front of the lineout, Wales make the turnover at the breakdown before they kick the ball up field. Lukhanyo Am gathers the loose ball and looks to counter attack but Wales manage to chase well close down the space and create a maul which keeps the ball off the ground. Wales are awarded the turnover and that will be the game. Congratulations to Wales for a 24-22 victory over the Springboks.
78	Wales are blown up for an infringement inside the Springboks 22 and Elton Jantjies sets the attacking lineout for South Africa with a touch finder on the Wales ten metre line.
77	The Springboks win the ball at the lineout inside their 22 and Elton Jantjies makes the exit kick for South Africa with a touch finder just outside the South Africa 22. Wales have the attacking lineout.
76	Taulupe Faletau comes away with the ball from the base of the scrum for Wales deep inside the Wales half and Wales make the clearance kick with a touch finder inside the South Africa 22. The Springboks have the defensive lineout.
75	The scrum goes down on the Wales ten metre line and the referee asks for a reset. Wales have another defensive scrum on their ten metre line.
74	Elton Jantjies knocks the ball forward on the Wales ten metre line. Wales have the defensive scrum.
73	Elton Jantjies finds Kriel on the switch before Dillyn Leyds looks to step his way through the tackle. Jantjies and Gelant look to combine with an offload inside the Wales 22 but Wales intercept the pass and manage to make the exit with a touch finder on their own ten metre line. South Africa have the attacking lineout.
71	The Springboks win the ball against the throw at the lineout on halfway and Bongi Mbonambi takes the ball into contact with plenty of pace before he is brought to ground.
70	Wales win the turnover with some good work at the breakdown from Wyn Jones inside their 22 before Wales make the kick up field. South Africa claim possession inside their own half and Handre Pollard makes the exit kick with a touch finder on halfway.
69	Andries Coetzee takes the ball into contact just inside the South Africa half of the field before Handre Pollard finds Francois Venter running on a good angle. Venter is brought to ground and South Africa look to play the phases inside the Wales half of the field.
67	Leigh Halfpenny adds the extra three points for Wales with the kick at poles from inside the South Africa 22. Wales now lead 24-22.
66	Francois Venter positions himself well to make a god tackle on his opponent just outside the South Africa 22. Pieter-Steph du Toit concedes the penalty for South Africa for not rolling away at the breakdown and Leigh Halfpenny will line a penalty kick up at poles from right underneath the poles.
65	South Africa win possession at the scrum inside their 22 and Handre Pollard makes the exit kick with a touch finder just outside the South Africa 22. Wales have the attacking lineout.
64	Wales jump up and win the ball at the lineout inside the South Africa 22. Wales gain momentum from the rolling maul but the Springboks disrupt the maul and manage to hold the ball up off the ground. South Africa are awarded the turnover and they will have the defensive scrum just short of their own five metre line.
62	South Africa concede the penalty for a deliberate knock down on halfway and Rhys Patchell sets the attacking lineout for Wales with a touch finder inside the South Africa 22.
61	Wales lose the ball forward inside the South Africa half of the field and the Springboks look to play an expansive game as Francois Venter takes the ball wide before Dillyn Leyds receives the pass and makes the offload. Wales manage t track back and bring South Africa to ground inside the Wales half.
60	Some relief for Wales at scrum time as Steven Kitshoff concedes the penalty for the Springboks at the scrum and Wales set the attacking lineout from the penalty with a touch finder on the Springboks ten metre line.
59	Wales do well to disrupt the South Africa rolling maul. The ball is held up off the ground and Wales are awarded the turnover. Wales have the defensive scrum just outside their 22.
58	Wales concede the penalty for an infringement in center field and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for South Africa with a touch finder just short of the Wales 22.
56	Handre Pollard sends the conversion sailing through the poles from a tough angle outside the Wales 22 and the Springboks now lead 22-21, good comeback from the visitors up to now.
55	Pieter-Steph du Toit jumps up and wins the ball at the lineout for South Africa inside the Wales 22 before Marx brushes off a tackler and gives South Africa momentum. The Springboks play the wide channels and Malcolm Marx powers down the wing and finds Jesse Kriel in space. Kriel crashes over the line for the try.
54	The Springboks are awarded another penalty for a dominant scrum on halfway and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for South Africa from the penalty with a touch finder on the Wales 22.
53	Aled Davies puts in the box kick on halfway and Wales compete well in the air but they knock the ball forward and the Springboks have the attacking scrum on halfway.
51	Warrick Gelant and Jesse Kriel make a double tackle on the wing as they manage to close down the space for Wales deep inside the South Africa half.
50	Rhys Patchell puts boot to ball and puts in the chip kick inside the South Africa 22, Hadeligh Parkes gathers the loose ball but the attempted offload goes to ground and Handre Pollard manages to make the exit kick for South Africa with a touch finder just outside the Springboks 22. Wales have the attacking lineout.
48	Rhys Patchell tests the South Africa back three with an accurate up and under just outside the South Africa 22 and Hallam Amos wins the ball in the air and comes away with possession for Wales on the wing but South Africa manage to close down the space and bring Amos to ground.
47	Handre Pollard sends the ball sailing wide of the poles with the attempted conversion from just outside the Wales 22. Wales now lead 21-15 after that try from Handre Pollard.
46	Ross Cronje finds Handre Pollard with a flat pass and Pollard runs hard and straight at the line as he crashes over for the try for South Africa. Game on!
45	Wales concede the penalty on their own five metre line and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for South Africa with a touch finder on the Wales five metre line.
44	Steven Kitshoff comes away with the ball at the front of the lineout before Mohoje carries well and takes play into the Wales five metre line.
43	Aled Davies puts the ball into touch on the full and South Africa have the attacking lineout just outside the Wales 22.
42	Jesse Kriel throws a difficult pass on the wing to Warrick Gelant who knocks the ball forward and Wales have the defensive scrum on their 22.
41	Referee Jerome Garces blows his whistle and Handre Pollard gets the second half going for South Africa with a deep kick which travels all the way into the Wales 22. Dan Biggar claims possession for Wales from the restart and Wales make the exit with the kick up field. Andries Coetzee wins the ball in the air and takes the ball into contact inside the Wales half of the field.
Half Time
40	Aled Davies puts boot to ball and sends the ball into touch. That will be halftime. Wales lead South Africa 21-10 at the break in what has been an exciting game filled with plenty of big hits, sidesteps and offloads. Stay tuned for the second half coming up shortly.
38	Handre Pollard has both the distance and the direction as he sends the ball sailing through the poles with the conversion from just outside the Wales 22.
37	A piece of magic from Dillyn Leyds sees Warrick Gelanty score his first test try for South Africa. Leyds wrong foots the Wales defence and breaks up field from inside the South Africa 22 before the ball goes wide. South Africa boot the ball up field and Gelant chases well and dots down for the try!
35	Handre Pollard forces the turnover for the Springboks with a well timed tackle on Leigh Halfpenny just outside the Wales 22. South Africa are going through the phases as they take the ball into contact and look to draw in the Wales defence.
33	It looks good and it's over! Leigh Halfpenny adds the extra two points with the conversion from the South Africa 22.
32	Try time! Andries Coetzee has plenty of space but makes a mess of his attempted kick up field as Wales charge down. Taulupe Faletau gathers the loose ball and sends Hadleigh Parkes clean through for the try with a well timed inside pass.
30	Handre Pollard has his kicking boots on today as he sends the ball sailing through the poles with an accurate kick at poles from inside the Wales 22.
29	Josh Navidi concedes the penalty for Wales for a high tackle on Handre Pollard inside the South Africa 22 and Handre Pollard will strike for poles from the penalty.
28	Venter, Kolisi and Marx combine on the wing with plenty of offloads which sees South Africa take play into the Wales 22 metre line. South Africa looking dangerous here!
27	Plenty of commitment from South Africa at the breakdown forces Wales to concede the penalty just outside the South Africa 22 for going off their feet at the breakdown and Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for South Africa with a touch finder on the Wales ten metre line.
26	The Springboks win possession at the scrum on their own five metre line and Handre Pollard makes the clearance kick with a touch finder just short of halfway. Wales have the attacking lineout.
25	Rob Evans receives a flat pass and a good tackle comes through from South Africa which forces him to knock the ball forward. South Africa have the five metre defensive scrum.
24	Andries Coetzee misjudges the high ball as he puts his foot in touch just outside the Springboks 22 and Wales now have the attacking lineout.
23	The lineout goes astray for South Africa as Wales jump up and win possession at the lineout inside their own 22 before they make the exit kick with a kick up field. South Africa respond with an aimless kick up field.
22	The Springboks are winning the scrum battle as they are awarded another penalty for a powerful scrum on halfway. The Springboks are searching for the five pointer as Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout with a touch finder inside the Wales 22.
21	Scott Andrews is blown up for a neck roll just outside the South Africa 22 but Handre Pollard fails to find touch as he looks to set the attacking lineout. Wales look to counter from inside their own half.
20	End to end action as Pieter-Steph du Toit sees the ball intercepted inside the Wales five metre line. Wales race up field before they make the chip kick over the South Africa defence but Dillyn Leyds manages to track back and claim the loose ball fr South Africa inside their own 22.
19	The crowd applauds as the TMO rules that the ball was held up over the try line and South Africa will have the five metre attacking scrum.
18	The Springboks get momentum from the lineout on the Wales five metre line with a powerful driving maul before Malcolm Marx looks for the pushover try with a big carry which takes him over the line. There are many hands obstructing the view of the grounding and the TMO has been asked try or no try.
17	Wales concede the penalty for entering the maul at the side and South Africa are going for broke as Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout with a touch finder on the Wales five metre line.
16	High fives all around for the Springboks at scrum time as they are awarded the penalty for a powerful scrum just short of halfway. Handre Pollard sets the attacking lineout for South Africa with a touch finder on the Wales 22.
14	Andries Coetzee makes the exit kick for South Africa with a kick up field which finds fullback Leigh Halfpenny with plenty of green in front of him as he looks to counter attack.
13	Aled Davies goes wide on the short side from the Wales scrum on the South Africa ten metre line. The Springboks manage to hold strong on defence before they make the turnover at the breakdown.
11	Handre Pollard takes the ball into contact on the Springbok ten metre line before Steven Kitshoff picks and goes and gives the Springboks momentum in the carry.
10	Wales are blowing fire and South Africa have no response at the moment as another high ball catches the Boks off guard. Wales win the ball in the air just inside the 22. South Africa make the turnover and Andries Coetzee puts boot to ball and finds touch just outside the South Africa 22. Wales have the attacking lineout.
8	Leigh Halfpenny puts Wales in front by 14 points with the conversion from inside the South Africa 22.
7	Dan Biggar finds space behind a disorganized Springbok defence with a chip kick into space from inside the South Africa 22. Four South Africa players chase back but Hadleigh Parkes beats them to the ball and dots down for the try.
5	Leigh Halfpenny adds the extra two points for Wales with the conversion from inside the Springboks 22 and Wales now lead 7-0.
4	Try time! Biggar finds Amos on the wing with a well crafted cross-field kick. Amos goes on a run down the wing before he finds outside centre Scott Williams with a well timed inside ball.Wales lead 5-0.
1	Ross cronje makes a mess of a high ball just outside the Springbok 22 and Wales look to pounce as they gather the loose ball and go wide before the chip kick comes through. South Africa manage to gather the loose ball and make the exit kick with a touch finder just outside their 22. Wales have the attacking lineout.
0	Referee Jérôme Garcès blows his whistle and Dan Biggar gets the game underway for Wales with a hanging kick which falls just short of the South Africa 22. Dillyn Lleyds makes a good catch from the kickoff. The Springboks carry well and Ross Cronje makes the exit kick with a box kick which finds Leigh Halfpenny who looks to counter attack!
-1	The Principality Stadium comes to life as the crowd rise for the national anthem of Wales, this is what it is all about there is a sea of red in the Stadium, we await referee Jerome Garces to signal the start of the game.
-2	Hands on hearts and plenty of passion shown from the Springboks as the national anthem of South Africa rings out around the Stadium.
-3	Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth and Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones lead their teams onto the field as the crowd rise from their seat and embrace the electric atmosphere at Principality Stadium.
-5	Jérôme Garcès is our referee. Wayne Barnes and Frank Murphy will assist him. Our TMO is Rowan Kitt.
-10	The last time these two teams played each other was at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in 2016 and on that occasion Wales walked away with a 27-13 victory.
-15	The roof is closed at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff which makes for an all out attacking game of rugby with plenty of big hits, offloads and sidesteps.
-20	Springbok coach Allister Coetzee has made 11 changes to the South Africa matchday squad for this clash against Wales. Wing Warrick Gelant and number eight Dan du Preez will get their first starts for the Springboks in the final Test of 2017. There are four changes amongst the forwards. Steven Kitshoff replaces the experienced Tendai Mtawarira, who is suffering from a groin injury and not available for selection. Malcolm Marx has shrugged off his shoulder problem and takes over the hooker duties from Mbongeni Mbonambi, who moves to the bench. Siyamthanda Kolisi is back in the side after missing the Italy Test because of paternal leave, and he comes in for Francois Louw on the side of the scrum. The uncapped duo of Lukhanyo Am (centre) and Louis Schreuder (scrumhalf) will join Mbonambi on the bench as two of a number of changes amongst the replacements, with Uzair Cassiem, Teboho Mohoje and Ruan Dreyer also included in the in the match day squad.
-25	Wales have made five changes for this clash against the Springboks. Scarlets' New Zealand-born centre Hadleigh Parkes will make his Test debut with scrumhalf Aled Davies the other change in the backline. Parkes previously played for the Blues, Southern Kings and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Parkes will partner Scott Williams in the centre with Davies lining up alongside Dan Biggar at halfback. Leigh Halfpenny, Steff Evans and Hallam Amos feature in an unchanged back three. There are three changes in the pack with Kristian Dacey and Scott Andrews coming into the front row alongside Rob Evans. Lock Cory Hill packs down alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones and it is an unchanged back row of Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi and Taulupe Faletau.
-30	Hello and welcome to Rugby 365's live commentary of this final Test-match of 2017 between Wales and South Africa from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

START LINE UP

1 Rob Evans
2 Kristian Dacey
3 Scott Andrews
4 Cory Hill
5 Alun Wyn Jones
6 Aaron Shingler
7 Josh Navidi
8 Taulupe Faletau
9 Aled Davies
10 Dan Biggar
11 Steffan Evans
12 Hadleigh Parkes
13 Scott Williams
14 Hallam Amos
15 Leigh Halfpenny

RESERVES

16 Elliot Dee
17 wyn Jones
18 Rhodri Jones
19 Seb Davies
20 Dan Lydiate
21 Rhys Webb
22 Rhys Patchell
23 Owen Watkins

START LINE UP

1 Steven Kitshoff
2 Malcolm Marx
3 Wilco Louw
4 Eben Etzebeth
5 Lodewyk de Jager
6 Siyanthamba Kolisi
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
8 Daniel du Preez
9 Ross Cronje
10 Handre Pollard
11 Warrick Gelant
12 Francois Venter
13 Jesse Kriel
14 Dillyn Leyds
15 Andries Coetzee

RESERVES

16 Bongi Mbonambi
17 Trevor Nyakane
18 Ruan Dreyer
19 Teboho Mohoje
20 Uzair Cassiem
21 Louis Schrueder
22 Elton Jantjies
23 Lukhanyo Am

There are injuries and there are players' owners who will not let them play for their countries because the November window is closed as December hurries in.

Last week both Wales and South Africa performed really well - Wales in going down fighting against the might of New Zealand, South Africa in giving Italy a hiding in the Padua rain. The teams this week are different.

Wales have 12 changes to the team that played New Zealand, South Africa 11 to the team that played the Azzurri. Each team has five changes to the starting XV.

The Wales team of 23 has more experience than the South African team - 563 caps against 388. Maybe that will work to good for South Africa - the enthusiasm and fearlessness of youth.

Caps are not the only criterion. Hadleigh Parkes of New Zealand will be making his debut for Wales. He is 30. Lukhanyo Am will probably make his debut for the Springboks. He is 24, and Warrick Gelant with one cap off the bench is just 22. 26-year-old captain Eben Etzebeth is the most capped Springbok with 66 caps. Alun-Wyn Jones, the Welsh captain, is 32 and has 112 caps.

After their player losses behind the scrum, the Welsh backs may well not have the ascendency that one would have expected before November. And so the scrap amongst the forwards may well be most telling with Wales depending much on the speed of their flanks, Aaron Shingler and Josh Davidi. (Davidi is not an obviously Welsh name but then his father is from Iran.)

Players to Watch:

For Wales: Leigh Halfpenny of Wales, a most courageous of rugby players. He is also creative and resilient and has an excellent boot. Hallam Amos on the wing for Wales has speed, strength and skill. He is in the mould of great Welsh wings. It is a treat to watch Alun-Wyn Jones singing the passionate Welsh anthem, Hen Wlad fy Nhadau (Land of My Fathers), with greater passion than all the rest. And then watch him play. Taulupe Faletau, Tongan born but Welsh raised, is a player who works harder than most other players, tackling and charging, and does so with a dead-pan face. He is strong.

For South Africa: On the South Africans side you would want to watch Gelant with the clever feet which would be the envy of every Welsh watcher and set them talking about Phil Bennett. In the centre, Francois Venter had a good match against Italy. Can he build on that against Wales? But the Springbok who has most caught the eye this year is hooker Malcolm Marx, a winner of turnovers who is powerful on the gallop. He has not quite replicated the performance he had against New Zealand at Newlands, but the class is there.

Head to Head: Goal-kicker vs goal-kicker - Leigh Halfpenny vs Handré Pollard. Last week in pouring rain Pollard returned to his best, converting all seven tries. He may just be back to form, in which case he and Halfpenny should have a keen duel - both able to kick long and accurately. Halfpenny is consistently one of the best in the world. The kickers' successes may be limited only by the discipline of their opponents. Front row vs front row - Scott Andrews, Kristian Dacey and Rob Evans vs Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff. Both sets are relative neophytes, each front row with a total of 39 caps, but this young South African trio may just be the best for quite some time. The Springboks have a strong look about them and have more beef behind them. Loose forwards vs loose forwards - Taulupe Faletau, Josh Davidi and Aaron Shingler vs Dan du Preez, Pieter-Stef du Toit and Siya Kolisi. It could be the classic struggle of speed vs strength. The Welsh may be better at the breakdown, the Springboks in carrying the ball. And the South African trio adds considerably to line-out possession. Taulupe Faletau vs Dan du Preez - both strong men on defence and forceful in carrying the ball. Dan Biggar vs Handré Pollard. Both are flyhalves who can dictate the game, determining how their teams attack and defend. Both are dependent on the forwards in front of them and the scrumhalf's service. The Springbok forwards may well get on top but Aled Davies may have the better - faster and more accurate - service.

Results this Century:

Wales and South Africa first played in Swansea in 1906 when the Springboks won 11-0, a huge victory. Wales won for the first time in 1999. The match this Saturday will be the 33rd. Of the 32 the Springboks have won 28, Wales three and there was a draw in 1970. Only 10 of the matches have been played in South Africa.

2002: South Africa won 19-8 at Newlands
2002: South Africa won 34-19 at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2004: South Africa won 38-36 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2004: South Africa won 53-18 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005: South Africa won 33-16 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2007: South Africa won 34-12 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2008: South Africa won 20-15 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2008: South Africa won 37-21 at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2008: South Africa won 43-17 at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2010: South Africa won 29-25 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2010: South Africa won 34-31 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2011: South Africa won 17-16 at Westpac Trust, Wellington, New Zealand
2013: South Africa won 24-15 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2014: South Africa won 31-30 at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
2014: South Africa won 38-16 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban
2014: Wales won 12-6 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
2015: South Africa won 23-19 at Twickenham, London
2016: Wales won 27-13 at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Prediction: It's the last match of a mediocre year for the Springboks. Surely they will all want to go home to a cheerful welcome followed by a comfortable lay-off for a while, comfortable because they will know that they have done far better than they did last November when the third of their successive defeats was against Wales who rejoiced in their biggest-ever victory over the Springboks. We believe that South Africa will win by about four points in a high-scoring match.

Teams

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Hallam Amos, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Josh Davidi, 6 Aaron Shingler; 5 Alun-Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Owen Watkin.

South Africa: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Warrick Gelant, 10 HHandré Pollard, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

Date: Saturday, December 2
Kick-off: 14.30 (14.30 GMT; 16.30 South African Time)
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Expected weather conditions: The stadium will be sealed, sides and roof, and so the weather is no playing consideration. But for those going into the stadium, there will be high of 8°C, cooling down to 6°C.
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

By Paul Dobson
@rugby365com

Injury-hit Wales edge Boks

Sat, 02 Dec 2017 14:00

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks ended the year on a poor note when they went down 22-24 to a Wales side missing a number of key players in Cardiff on Saturday.

The difference between the two sides was only a conversion, the scoreboard says. But the scoreboard does not tell the full story of the difference in skill and organisation.

Wales, a much weakened side, were better at catching and passing and better at getting into the right positions. They also kicked better, especially out of hand.

In fact it was the boot that set up 14 points for Wales in the first 10 minutes. And their target was the South African left. They scored their three tries on the left and nearly got a fourth down that channel as well.

Dan Biggar kicked off for Wales and Wales attacked as, yet again, the Springboks could not get out of their territory at a kick-off.

From a scrum on Wales's left, near the half-way line, Biggar hoisted a diagonal kick to the right. Hallam Amos, completely unmarked, caught the kick, beat Andries Coetzee and passed inside to Scott Williams who scored. Leigh Halfpenny converted, 7-0 after 5 minutes.

Four minutes later Biggar kicked Wales to their second try.

Wales threw in to a line-out on their right. Taulupe Faletau won the ball and Biggar chipped neatly over the advancing Springbok backs. Hadleigh Parkes, a New Zealander making his debut for Wales, swooped on the ball under Jesse Kriel's nose and score near the posts. 14-0 after 9 minutes.

It was a dream start for the Dragons.

They nearly got another when Biggar, going right, kicked another high diagonal and Pollard did not catch it. Amos grabbed it and started running. He gave inside to Faletau and Wales were close. Amos got closest but lost the ball forward, The Springboks survived.

In the first half, the Springboks were not penalised but Wales were - six times. Two penalties set the Springboks attacking and they mauled over the line. Malcolm Marx - and all his team-mates - believed that he had scored but the TMO could find no evidence of grounding. The Springboks had to be satisfied with a five-metre scrum from which they attacked. Francois Venter was close but Wales intercepted and Steff Evans went racing down the midfield, kicking ahead to put his side back in Springbok territory.

The Springboks attacked down the right with Siya Kolisi and Marx prominent. They went through phases and Josh Navidi was penalised for a high tackle. Pollard goaled the easy kick. 14-3 after 31 minutes.

The Springbok got the ball back from the kick-off, and Coetzee was to kick, but Biggar charged down the kick. Faletau got the ball and, as Warrick Gelant was tackling him, passed inside to Parkes who scored his second try in his first Test. 21-3 after 32 minutes. Wales would score again 35 minutes later and then it counted enormously.

Wales kicked into the Springbok 22 where Dillyn Leyds got the ball and started running, darting through Welshmen in counterattack. The ball came to Kriel on the left and he hoofed it downfield. Gelant won the race to the ball bouncing in the Welsh in-goal and he scored a try. 21-10 after 38 minutes.

In the last passage of play of the half, Eben Etzebeth was injured and replaced at the start of the second half by Oupa Mohoje.

The Springboks attacked in the start of the second half. They went wide and Dan du Preez was close. A penalty have them a five-metre line-out. They mauled and Steven Kitshoff was close. The ball came back to Cronje who gave to Pollard who burst through Aled Davies to score. His conversion hit the upright and stayed out. That narrow piece of wood would prove valuable to Wales. 21-15 after 46 minutes.

Rhys Patchell came on for Biggar who went for a head injury assessment, which he failed.

Patchell's first act was to kick a diagonal to the right where Amos was, again, unmarked but a pass went astray and the Springboks survived - and scored.

From a line-out the Springboks went right, then back left where Marx gave Kriel a perfect pass some 15 metres from the line. Kriel raced ahead and through Halfpenny to score in the corner. Pollard converted from far out and, surprise, the Springboks led 22-21 with 15 minutes to play.

With 13 minutes to play, Pieter-Stef du Toit was penalised at a tackle in front of his posts and Halfpenny goaled the simple kick to restore the lead to Wales at 24-22.

In those 13 minutes, Wales defended with great determination as the Springboks strove to get back the lead. Their efforts were twice thwarted when Elton Jantjies knocked on and then the Welsh held Lukhanyo Am up for a scrum, the final whistle sounded.

for the third time in succession Wales had beaten the Springboks at Principality/Millennium Stadium.

Man of the Match: The candidates are Welsh - Dan Biggar, Hadleigh Parkes, Hallam Amos and the loose forwards Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi and Taulupe Faletau, and our choice is Taulupe Faletau for his hard work on defence, his strength in carrying and his part in Parkes's try.

Moment of the Match: Dan Biggar's diagonal to Hallam Amos.

Villain of the Match: Nobody on the field, nobody at all.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Tries: Williams, Parkes 2
Cons: Halfpenny 3
Pen: Halfpenny

For South Africa:
Tries: Gelant, Pollard, Coetzee
Cons: Pollard 2
Pen: Pollard

Teams

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Hallam Amos, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Aled Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Josh Navidi, 6 Aaron Shingler; 5 Alun-Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Scott Andrews, 2 Kristian Dacey, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Dan Lydiate, 21 Rhys Webb, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Owen Watkin.

South Africa: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Warrick Gelant, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Uzair Cassiem, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Lukhanyo Am.

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Frank Murphy (Ireland)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)

Scott Williams (4min), Hadleigh Parkes (7min), and Hadleigh Parkes (32min)

TRIES

Warrick Gelant (37min), Handre Pollard (46min), and Jesse Kriel (55min)

Leigh Halfpenny (5min), Leigh Halfpenny (8min), and Leigh Halfpenny (33min)

CONVERSIONS

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REFEREE Jérôme Garcès

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South Africa

Half Time

PREVIEW: Wales vs South Africa

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: This will go down in history as a Test between Wales and South Africa, the 33rd since the first in 1906. It will become a part of the list of Tests, many of them heroic encounters. And yet the teams will not be the best available to the two countries.

Injury-hit Wales edge Boks

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks ended the year on a poor note when they went down 22-24 to a Wales side missing a number of key players in Cardiff on Saturday.

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