Wales edge Boks for first-ever win in SA
MATCH REPORT: Replacements Josh Adams and Gareth Anscombe combined to give Wales a series-levelling 13-12 Test win over South Africa on Saturday – their first success against the Springboks in the republic after 58 years of trying.
*To recap all the action CLICK HERE!!!
Wing Adams dived over in the corner on 78 minutes for the only try of an error-strewn match and Anscombe converted from the touchline to snatch victory in Bloemfontein.
A South African team showing 14 changes after a dramatic win in Pretoria last weekend led 12-3 midway through the second half thanks to four penalty goals from debutant captain Handre Pollard.
Anscombe, who came on for injured skipper and flyhalf Dan Biggar, reduced the gap to six points with a penalty before late Welsh pressure paid off with a dramatic triumph.
Wales had lost 11 previous Tests in South Africa against the Boks since 1964, including two in Bloemfontein.
Success for Wales continued a great day for northern hemisphere nations after Ireland triumphed for the first time in New Zealand and England won in Australia.
Wales went in front within two minutes when Biggar kicked a close-range penalty goal after flank Pieter-Steph du Toit had been penalised for going off his feet at a ruck.
But the advantage lasted just four minutes before the rival captain and playmaker Pollard levelled from an equally simple penalty kick.
A second penalty from Biggar, which was more challenging than the first, veered just right of the post in front of a capacity 46,000 crowd at Toyota Stadium in the central city.
Alex Cuthbert, recalled to Wales’ starting line-up in the only change to the team beaten 32-29 in Pretoria last weekend, was forced to leave the field injured with less than a quarter of the match completed.
Adams, who had made way for Cuthbert, came on for the tourists, who almost immediately conceded a penalty that Pollard failed to convert.
The scrums were a problem area with Australian referee Angus Gardner awarding numerous penalties or free kicks to both sides for various offences.
While South Africa had the territorial edge in the opening half, their attacks lack creativity and were comfortably contained.
Where Wales were superior in box kicking with most of them contestable while some from South Africa were overhit, resulting in possession being cheaply surrendered.
An arm-wrestle first half full of energy and unforced errors ended 3-3 and South Africa made their first changes during the break with hooker Malcom Marx and prop Vincent Koch coming into the front row.
South Africa dominated much of the second half and the three Pollard penalties put them in a strong position to clinch the series.
Wales replacement lock Alun Wyn Jones was yellow-carded for the second successive weekend just after coming on, but it did not prove costly as both side scored three points while he was sidelined.
But as the match entered the closing stages Wales gained the ascendancy and, after several attempts to score a pushover try failed, a long pass from Anscombe to Adams set up the historic victory.
Man of the match: For the Springboks, the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie and Marcell Coetzee were incredible in the pack. They added brute strength the Boks’ pack. In the backline, Andre Esterhuizen deserves a mention. For Wales, Nick Tompkins deserves a mention. However, for his incredible work at the breakdown, making turnovers at crucial moments our nod goes to Wales flank Tommy Reffell
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Pens: Pollard 4
For Wales:
Try: Adams
Con: Anscombe
Pens: Biggar, Anscombe
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Kurt Lee Arendse, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Aphelele Fassi, 10 Handre Pollard (captain), 9 Jaden Henrikse, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Deon Fourie, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Damian Willemse.
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Cuthbert, 10 Dan Biggar (captain), 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Sam Wainwright, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Josh Adams.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
