Player ratings: New Bok low
The Springboks ended winless after their four-match, three-Test year-end.
It means that Allister Coetzee's men have lost eight Tests in a calendar year for the first time – another unwanted record!
Lyndon Julius rates the South African players!
15 Johan Goosen
He absorbed the pressure from the high ball on a few occasions, but the full-back's decision making on attack allowed the home side to settle on defence. Goosen ran 51 metres in the first half, that's the most by any player on either side but none of these metres paid off any points for the Boks.
1/10
14 Ruan Combrinck
Playing with much more confidence than his previous appearances, the Lions utility back's massive boot came in handy on a few occasions.
2/10
13 Francois Venter
The midfielder's handling skills was questionable, apart from the odd occasion that the ball dipped in mid-air, his hands were leaking.
2/10
12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg
His first Test debut and it seemed that the pressure got to the Lions midfielder. Janse van Rensburg made a few runs, but it was his inability to stop the home side's backs that stood out.
2/10
11 Jamba Ulengo
His name was mentioned only a handful of times, not getting ball from his centres shouldn't be an excuse. The speedster should have learnt a thing or two from the legendary Habana and get involved in the match.
1/10
10 Elton Jantjies
His vision was good, but the execution thereof leaves one wondering what warranted his selection in the run-on side. Form off the tee helped him save face.
2/10
9 Francois de Klerk
The nippy nine didn't do much to redeem himself following last week's dismal performance. De Klerk was not only slow off the base, but his decision making abilities put the Boks on the backfoot on a few occasions.
2/10
8 Warren Whiteley
Not much to be said, as in his previous outings, the Lions skipper failed to make any considerable impact at the breakdown, but it is in broken play, where he is known to carve through defensive lines, that he let his side down.
2/10
7 Uzair Cassiem
The debutant made some crucial tackles, stopping the threatening Wales backs from gaining momentum. Cassiem was thrown in at the deep end and the back rower didn't disappoint, he even got over for his first Test try.
5/10
6 Nizaam Carr
The back row forward made some solid hits and got busy at the breakdown, effecting a turnover that could have resulted in Wales crossing for a certain first-half try, but Carr tends to go quiet as the game matures and this was the case once again.
3/10
5 Lodewyk de Jager
Carried the ball very well, made good use of his strength to suck in more than one defender at a time. Solid at the line-out, supported well his fellow second rower.
3/10
4 Pieter-Steph du Toit
An improved performance from the second rower, du Toit ensured the Boks' defensive efforts were strong. He got his basics right, but a lot more was expected from the versatile forward.
3/10
3 Lourens Adriaanse
Going up against one of the game's toughest competitors, Gethin Jenkins, the Bok prop had a tough day at the office. Him collapsing at every second scrum, didn't help his cause either.
2/10
2 Adriaan Strauss (captain)
Playing in his last game for the Boks, the captain had a much better game. His ability to keep calm under pressure allowed the forwards to play with a lot more confidence in the set pieces.
4/10
1 Tendai Mtawarira
The Beast stood firm in the scrums, his strength and experience helped the Boks to stop Wales from quality ball at crucial times.
3/10
Replacements:
16 Malcolm Marx (not enough time to be rated)
17 Steven Kitshoff (On for Tendai Mtawarira, 59th min)
Kitshoff came on and immediately he got busy at the coalface. He made his presence felt for a short passage of play, but that was as good as it got for him.
2/10
18 Trevor Nyakane (not enough time to be rated)
19 Franco Mostert (not enough time to be rated)
20 Jean-Luc du Preez (not enough time to be rated)
21 Piet van Zyl (On for Francois de Klerk, 64th min)
The Bulls scrum-half cleared much quicker than de Klerk, but it his lack of composure at crucial times clouded his decision making ability.
3/10
22 Pat Lambie (On for Elton Jantjies, 59th min)
The more experienced playmaker made a solid impact, his vision and decision making skills came in handy. But with the lack of quality ball in fact the lack of ball didn't make it any easier for the flyhalf.
3/10
23 Lionel Mapoe (not enough time to be rated)
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