Match report
“Another week, another record defeat.”
These are the sobering opening words from Andy Bull’s report that has just landed.
And with those words, I’ll sign off.
Thank you to everyone who wrote in. I hope you enjoyed that. Even the Welsh supporters among us.
“Wales never gave up,” declares KR Lauf.
“Big respect to Wales who did not give up....Dyer and Botham’s tries came at the end of each half, after physical batterings..still they endured.” No doubt.
Huw Rees has some choice words for the man in charge:
“I’ve been a fan of Gatland, and the loss of 5 line outs is down to the players. However the one up runners are there to be turned over, that’s down to coaching, how you attack. Archie Griffin, his arse was higher than his shoulders on all his scrums, that’s poor technique, and Jonathan Humphreys is not a good coach. Time for the coaching team to go.”
You know what… I agree.
Now Warren Gatland:
Our boys tried really hard out there. They gave it everything and that’s all I can ask. They’ll learn from that. They are clinical and that’s why they are world champions.
They’ll learn a massive amount. Hopefully there is a step-up when they play next time.
It’s about seeing what the union will say [about his future]. It’s always tough doing a press conference straight after a game. Let’s see what happens over the next few days.
I needed to see a shift today from the players and I can’t ask any more from how much they tried. That score could have completely blown out but they kept trying for 80 minutes. We need to be better conditioned and that’s a big work on for some of them as we build towards the Six Nations.
It’s been challenging over the last couple of weeks. I’m only human. It’s tough. But the amount of people that have contacted me – coaches, fans, players, people from the media – who have wished me well, that has made a huge difference.
We’ve punched massively above our weight for a number of years. The dam has burst. We have to make sure that we work together with the regions. We have to be in better shape in terms of conditioning. So that when the players turn up for the Six nations they’re ready to go.
Here’s Siya Kolisi:
It hasn’t been perfect. We were happy we won the first two matches but it could have been better.
Obviously the results are important. But it’s how you do things.
[Tony Brown – the new attack coach] has been big for us. We keep learning new stuff. It’s not the same game plan. There are younger guys pushing.
We have so much respect for Wales. I have no doubt they’ll pick it up.
Jamie Roberts has emphasised what a “privilege” it is to play at the Principality.
Sam Warburton has stressed the fan experience at the stadium and promised that “Welsh rugby will be back”.
These are bleak days.
Here’s Dewi Lake:
Physically it was the toughest Test (of the year). We showed a lot of heart and character. They’re world champions for a reason.
We’re not there yet. Errors cost us again. They’re tough to stop when they’re rolling on the ball. I can’t question the effort.
We have to keep the faith. The second we lose that faith it’s pointless stepping onto the field. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. We’ll never get tired of putting on the jersey.
Simon Williams has mixed emotions after that:
“Not nice to watch from someone whose father was born in Cardiff, myself in Cape Town. Wales is always my 2nd team and it’s sad to see them in disarray, but remember Wales are a proud and champion rugby nation and it wasn’t that long ago that the Springboks were 7th in the world. Wales will endure.”
Here’s the player of the match, Franco Mostert:
Credit to Wales. We knew it was going to be a tough game. [Was it though?]
Coach Rassie said we are here to get better. Last week our performance was a little individual. This weekend we focussed on playing as a team.
As players we back our coaches and management. The way they bring in new guys.
Full-time: Wales 12-45 South Africa
That’s that. Wales close out the year winless. What a disaster 2024 has been for them. South Africa weren’t anywhere near their best and yet scored seven tries and to confirm their status as the world’s best team.
TRY! Wales 12-45 South Africa (Botham, 80)
Botham gets his reward! If there’s one player who has stood up, it’s Botham. From the line-out, Wales ground their way within striking distance before Botham wrestled his way over. The extras are added, but that doesn’t add any gloss.
79th min: Mostert c elebrates his recognition by committing a penalty inside his own 22. So Wales will get the final say with a line-out five metres out.
Franco Mostern wins player of the match. Too right. He’s been brilliant.
TRY! Wales 5-45 South Africa (Jordan Hendrikse, 76)
Seventh heaven! Beautiful off-load from Reinach who finds his fly-half on the support line in the left tram. Pollard got things going with a busting charge through midfield. Reinach then picked up off the back of the ruck, straightened, freed his hands and found Hendrikse. The number 10 dusted himself off and slotted the extra two points from close to the touchline.
Updated
74th min: A quick exchange of penalties. First Snyman then Thomas. So it’s a quick ding-dong of territory that settles with a South African line-out, following a punt to touch, inside Wales’ half, about 10 metres in from the half-way line on the right.
72nd min: Wales get the ball back. A more clinical South Africa would have reached the half-century mark by now. But a nothing kick from James finds Arendse in space and he finds Fassi who charges through the encroaching defence. He kicks ahead but it’s too long. Line-out to Wales who choose to clear their their 22 so we settle with a Boks throw around half-way. The game is meandering towards a conclusion.
69th min: Oh dear. Wales make a mess of another line-out and they give away possession inside their own half with a knock-on. Nothing has gone right, has it? Scrum to the Boks on half-way towards the left touch.
68th min: The ball somehow bobbles out on the Welsh side of the scrum following a South African feed, but there was a penalty awarded against the Welsh. That’s their sixth they’ve conceded at the set-piece and Dickson has given Morgan a final team warning.
65th min: Wales get the chance to kick to touch from a penalty and will get the line-out inside the Boks’ 22. There was a heart in mouth moment for Watkin who seemed to have tip tackled Kolbe, but he actually set him down safely. South Africa win possession back but inexplicably choose to run the ball from inside their own in-goal area. Kolisi is smashed by Hathaway and dumped out of touch. But the Boks had the scrum advantage after a Welsh spill and Reinach will put in five out from his own own try line.
TRY! Wales 5-38 South Africa (Steenkamp, 62)
Inevitable. Just relentless. The scrum under the poles was unplayable and Hanekom tapped and went. he almost knocked on but kept control of the ball. Then they came. Big units running hard at the line. Wales just couldn’t keep them out and eventually, from close range, Steenkamp rumbled over. Hendrikse, still kicking while Pollard is on the field, slots the conversion from the right touchline.
61st min: South Africa win the scrum penalty five metres out. They choose to pack down again. Jaden Hendrikse makes way for Reinach. Van Staden on for Wiese who made 109 metres from 19 carries. Immense.
60th min: The line-out provides front-foot ball for the Boks. They keep hammering the line. Wales hold them out but illegally. So it’s another South African penalty right under the poles. Lake makes way with Elias coming on. They choose the scrum.
57th min: A couple of knock-ons in the space of a few minutes, first from Kolbe then from Thomas, means we have a South African scrum around half-way. They get a penalty and so have a free hit. Nothin’ doin’ so we come back for the pen. I doubt they’ll go for poles. Yup, into the corner from Hendrikse. 10 metres out for a line-out.
TRY! Wales 5-31 South Africa (Fassi, 55)
Deadly from the Boks back three. Arendse the provider this time as he counters, welcomes the contact, off-loads to Fassi on the support line to his left and the fullback is away, sliding over in the corner. The conversion fails, but that’s a wonder score with a wonder assist.
Updated
52nd min: OH NO! Lake over-throws from the line-out five out from the Boks’ line and Hendrikse gathers and takes it away. The clearing kick finds the half-way line and that is a major let-off for South Africa. About sums up the Welsh year to be honest. Lake then attempts a chip and chase and it gives away possession. That’s a torrid minute for the skipper. Now South Africa have a line-out on Wales’ 22.
51st min: Another penalty agains the Boks. They’re getting a bit messy. This one’s inside their 22, not far from their line. Wales will have another line-out. Their catch and drive from the set-piece has worked well. Pollard comes on for de Allende to bring some composure.
49th min: Arendse claims a good grab in the air. Murray does likewise but is clattered. Still, Wales have the ball back inside their own half. Fassie gathers under pressure from Dyer following a deep box kick but gets the off-load away. Now Fassie kicks. It’s a little loose by the Boks and a stray elbow from a South African on Thomas gives Wales the penalty. So they’ll kick to the corner and take a shot from a line-out.
48th min: A slick off-load from Snyman sparks a move and then Arendse wriggles through a half-gap and is motoring up field at pace. Kolbe has it and then to goes down the line. Fassie now into the 22 on the left touchline. But a massive hit from Morgan on Hanekom gives Botham the chance to steal in and make the pinch on the ground. Not for the first time, this is fantastic defence and jackaling from the Welsh. Thomas comes on to make his debut. Plumtree the man to make way.
45th min: Nevermind. South Africa get the scrum penalty. Asseratti the guilty man there. Hendrikse hoofs to touch and here comes the Bomb Squad. Marx, Steenkamp and Koch for du Toit, Grobelaar and Louw.
43rd min: South Africa get within touching distance near the left corner with strong carries from de Allende and then Snyman, but the big lock had his pocket picked after a dominant double shot from Smith and Plumtree. A little while later Wales get a scrum inside South Africa’s half after a de Allende knock-on. So a handy few minutes for the home side. Decent striking distance in the middle of the pitch just outside the 22.
42nd min: South Africa hit their straps. Fassie heavily involved, first distributing from second receiver, then running a superb support line off Hendrikse’s shoulder, then almost stitching a pass back in-field as he combines with Arendse. That was delightful. They stepped out so Wale have the throw on their 22. Hanekom comes on to win his debut.
They’re back out on the park.
Can Wales pull off a comeback? No. Probably not. But that try late in the first half should give them a lift. Can they explode out the blocks for the second? Let’s see…
“Hope Etzebet is OK.”
Says Harold [no surname].
”Boks must be careful not to get too complacent.”
I wouldn’t worry about that.
“I was expecting SA to win but ....didn’t think they’d be leading 179-0 at this stage.
Thanks Giles B, and David Manby. This is reference to a typo of mine after Arendse’ try.
In my defence, the spirit of this game reflects that score. And let’s not discount the Boks stacking on another 153 points in the second half.
Half-time: Wales 5-26 South Africa
That’ll be that. One-sided doesn’t quite cut it. Sure, Wales had the final say, but two South Africans were held up over the line and four more dotted down. Even this gulf on the scoreboard doesn’t convey the gulf on the pitch.
TRY! Wales 5-26 South Africa (Dyer, 40)
Dyer scores a stunner! Once again with penalty advantage following a strong maul off the line-out, and several big carries, Dyer finds the right corner on the opposite side of the field. Kriel made a great defensive read and looked to have stifled the attack Wales went down the backline, but Dyer got the ball in space, pinned his ears back and found the corner. The conversion is wide but at least Wales have a score before half-time.
Updated
39th min: Much, much better from Wales. After the line-out they maintained their phase play and shape. They went right from the set-piece but couldn’t break through with strong carries. South Africa keep them out but illegally so another penalty goes the way of the Welsh. Another line-out. Another maul. Another penalty advantage. Mostert collapsed the maul. Will they got for another line-out? Indeed they will.
37th min: South Africa commit a penalty after the restart so Wales kick to the corner and get a chance to land a blow of their own. They win the line-out and their maul is strong and secure. Can they get this over the line?
TRY! Wales 0-26 South Africa (E Louw, 35)
There’s the fourth! South Africa’s scrum consumed the Welsh pack, won a penalty and the try was inevitable from there. Wiese picked up and carried a metre short. But Elrigh Louw finished it with a muscular statement under the poles. The conversion just adds more woe for the home side.
Updated
33rd min: Kolisi has dotted over the line but they’re going to check if there wasn’t an infringement in the build up. Indeed there is! Jaden Hendrikse spilled it at the base of a ruck. That’s a shame. Just about every Bok was involved in a move rich with quick hands and off-loads. They’re playing a different sport than their hosts. Wales have another scrum to survive near their own line.
32nd min: A third Welsh player makes a tackle on a man in the air. Hathaway this time as he took Fassie out. Having won a turnover on South Africa’s ball moments earlier, it’s just poor. Gatland can’t do anything about that. That’s just not good enough at Test level.
31st min: Wales get the ball out without any danger. Plumtree carries well under pressure. A clearing kick takes it out between halfway and their 22 so the Boks will come again from the line-out.
30th min: The brothers almost combine for a worldie! Jaden’s little dink kick from the back of the ruck is perfectly timed to meet Jordan’s blind run through the Welsh line. But it bobbles awkwardly and he knocks on around his knees. Eztebeth must have taken a nasty knock as he is leaving the field looking a little groggy. The equally large RG Snyman enters the scene. Wales have the scrum five metres from their own line.
29th min: Off the line-out, the Boks work a nifty move down the left with de Allende involved in the build-up. They keep possession and snake left and then back right with short carries from the big units. 15 phases before a cross-field kick finds Kolbe on the left wing. The little man leaps and knocks it back for Fassie who collects and dives over the line, but heroic holds him up and prevents the ball from being dotted down.
26th min: Thomas du Toit wins the scrum penalty. They’re just so dominant in so many areas. Hendrikse then hoofs a big kick to touch and we’re back in Welsh territory for a South African throw.
23rd min: Wales will get a rare touch of the ball after a knock-on by the Boks around half-way. They take it on with a stiff carry from their captain, Lake. Costelow then kicks highand Fassie knocks on. So it’ll be another scrum for Wales about 10 metres into enemy territory.
21st min: There’s just no respite for Wales. A second tackle in the air in 20 minutes concedes a penalty straight from the restart. So frustrating. Hendrikse goes for distance but doesn’t find touch. Costelow (back on the field after a head check) kicks it out around half-way.
TRY! Wales 0-19 South Africa (Arendse, 19)
And another! And it was so simple. Mostert takes the line-out and Hendrkise then fizzes it down the line. Nothing special. Just fast and accurate. Arendse, on the left wing catches a looping pass from Fassie and then steps off his left foot and rounds the two covering defenders. Hendrikse converts as It’s falling apart for Wales.
Updated
19th min: Another penalty inside Wales’ 22. Llewellyn with a tackle off the ball. he got sucked into buying the decoy run of Fassi. South Africa have already made 267 metres to Wales’ 33. They’ll have another line-out five out. It’s one-way traffic so far.
17th min: Wales hold firm|! Brilliant defence. First their scrum held their own and forc ed messy ball for Hendrikse at the base. Wiese picked up and went himself but couldn’t bust through. Etzebeth was then crunched by Smith. Kolisi then had a dart but Morgan did brilliantly to hold him up over the line.
14th min: Wales do well to lift a jumper and disrupt the line-out. But they spill the ball. So South Africa will get a five metre scrum. Out of the frying pan and into the fire for the home side.
13th min: The Boks get a rumble on from their maul, but there’s a penalty as the Welsh disrupt it illegally. That might be the final straw before a yellow is shown. Another line-out chance for SA. This time about five metres out.
13th min: Slick line-out work and Arendse, off his wing, takes it on a wraparound move from de Allende and busts over the 22 line on the right. Plumtree gets in a tangle at a breakdown and is penalised. Hendrikse punts it closer to the line. SA with the throw about seven out.
11th min: Wales are off-side so they get a penalty inside their own half. They’re chucking it about, even under pressure Jordan Hendrikse chucked a tough pass to Kriel who took the contact. But the penalty allows Hendrikse to kick towards Wales’ 22 for a line-out.
TRY! Wales 0-12 South Africa (Etzebeth, 9)
Both locks have scored! They’re running riot! It started with stiff counter ruck that robbed Wales of the ball. Then it was all too easy as quick hands found Arendse on the left wing and in a flash he was cantering up the field. A simple pass back inside found the big unit in support and he charged over the try line. The conversion is missed, but this already looks like it could get messy.
Updated
TRY! Wales 0-7 South Africa (Mostert, 6)
South Africa are on the board! A brilliant line from Mostert is totally missed by wales near the right wing and Jaden Hendrikse hits the big man at pace and he’s through a gap. It started with a run from Arendse that sparked a move down the line before Kolbe barged into the 22. South Africa then dominated the breakdown and kept their momentum moving forward. Wales’ line splintered and Mostert picked his moment to perfection. The conversion is good and the Boks are away.
Updated
5th min: Elrigh Louw claims the line-out at the back of the line-out and Hendrikse then Wiese take it close to the line. They’re five out as they go from right to left. But Botham gets low and wins a crucial penalty on his own line. That is a fantastic steal. Wilco Louw guilty of holding on there after he charged over the gainline.
4th min: Costelow has started well. He takes a high ball under pressure. Hendrikse then gets clattered as he catches a high kick but soon Kriel is over the gainline courtesy of a cross-field kick to to the left wing. But we come back for the penalty as Dyer took Hendrikse out in the air. The Boks hoof it ling and they’ll get the line-out inside Wales’ 22.
2nd min: Costelow’s kick-off is deep and Jordan Hendrikse boots it out around half-way. Morgan charges to the line. Costelow carries well. Lake too. Early continuity from the Welsh until Costelow launched a high kick that is claimed by Jordan Hendrkise. They’re playing their own game right now.
Wales in white with green shorts by the way. Maybe that’s the change they needed.
Tell you what, that was a moving rendention of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
No matter the context, the Welsh know how to back their boys. Tears in the eyes of Lake and Dyer. If they can bring that to the pitch we might have a game.
The players are stood in their rows, two of rugby’s best anthems are about to get going.
Not long now…
Here’s what the coaches had to say before kick-off:
Warren Gatland:
Last week’s result hurts, and we are just as disappointed by it as the fans.
There were good elements that we can definitely build on going into Saturday, but we have to improve our accuracy.
We know what a quality side South Africa are and the physicality they bring. This week we need to show real courage and front-up against the world champions.
Rassie Erasmus:
This is our last match of the season, and we are determined to finish the year on a positive note.
Wales are a proud nation with a world-renowned coach in Warren and they’ll do everything to finish their campaign on a high note.
We’d love to finish the tour unbeaten, but we are well aware of the fact that we’ve have a few close results against them over the years at the Principality Stadium.
Wales have won the coin toss. So far so good for the underdogs.
“I do care passionately about Welsh rugby and that’s why I’ve said that if people feel that the best decision is for me to go, then that’s OK, I’ll move on and look for something else,” Gatland said this week.
“I honestly believe that if you make that decision now, what are you going to achieve? Is someone else going to come in there and start again, how long is that process going to take? What players are available to us at the moment that are potentially going to affect results?”
Fighting words from one of the game’s greatest scrappers. But surely the end is nigh?
When Cameron Hanekom takes the field to win his Test debut, he’ll become the 51st player used by Rassie Erasmus this year.
Ordinarily such chopping and changing is a sing that things aren’t going so well (Wayne Pivac used 50 Welsh players in 2020 and Dave Rennie used 51 Australians in 2022).
But the Boks are on course to win their 11th Test from 13 in a season that includes a Rugby Championship title.
South Africa’s dominance over the oval ball is often inflated by their passionate supporters. France, New Zealand and Ireland, one their day, can certainly challenge them. But there’s no question we’re in the midst of one of the great dynasties in the sport’s history.
“Gatland has seemed like a sacked man working, if not a dead man walking, ever since he said he was willing to resign if it was in “the best interests of the Welsh game” after they were beaten 52-20 by Australia last Sunday”
This was punchy stuff from Andy Bull who also argues that Gats is “a good man, and was a great coach” but that it’s “beginning to feel like his last act of service to the Welsh game will be to take the blame for its failings, and, by doing so, force it to finally confront the state it is in.”
I’m not sure where I stand. All I know is that if the coach of my national team had publicly announced his intention/willingness to step away from the job twice in the same year, I’d be demanding he leave as swiftly as possible.
South Africa team
Two brothers – Jordan and Jaden Hendrikse – start together in the half-backs for the first time. Outside of them is a ton of experience as the in the backline.
In front of them it’s a slightly rejigged pack. Eben Etzebeth was supposed to start off the bench but a late injury to Jean Kleyn means the 130-cap veteran wears the 4 jersey. Keep an eye out for debutant Cameron Hanekom off the bench. Many back home have predicted a bright future for the rampaging loose forward.
South Africa: Aphelele Fassie; Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Jordan Hendrikse, Jaden Hendrikse; Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobellar, Wilco Louw, Eben Eztebeth; Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (c), Elrigh Louw, Jasper Wiese.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenkamp, Vincent Koch, Marco van Staden, RG Snyman, Cameron Hanekom, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard.
Wales team
There have been four late changes to the side that was originally selected. Not sure if that’s a sign of chaos in the ranks but it is a rare late shuffle for sure.
Winger Josh Hathaway and prop Nicky Smith start in place of Tom Rogers and Gareth Thomas. Kemlsey Mathias and Owen Watkin take their place on a handy looking bench.
But I fear none of this will make much of a difference. Still, what an opportunity to do your country proud.
Wales: Blair Murray; Josh Hathaway, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Ellis Bevan; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (c), Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Christ Tchiunza, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Kemsley Mathias, Kieron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Eddie James, Owen Watkin.
Preamble
If you like your Test rugby tight and hotly contested, you’ve probably come to the wrong place.
Of course anything can happen, but this would go down as one of the greatest shocks in the sport’s history if Wales – winless this year – manage to topple the Springboks.
Warren Gatland, Wales’ beleaguered coach, used to work miracles and achieve success despite the struggles of the domestic set-up. But he’s either lost his mojo or run out of players who can make up for those shortcomings because he heads into the most difficult challenge in rugby right now on the back of 11 straight defeats. For those wondering, that makes this the worst Welsh side in the country’s history. Anything other than a crushing 12th loss would constitute an upset.
Rassie Erasmus, South Africa’s coach, has no space for sentiment or sympathy. He’s selected a formidable side (more on that later) and will expect to close 2024 with an 11th win from 13 Tests. This would also make it a clean sweep from their European tour, their first since 2013.
But if Wales are to go down let them at least go down with pride. Even a disappointing result can have a silver lining after all and there are thousands of loyal Welsh supporters who deserve to put this torrid year behind them with an inkling of goodwill in their hearts.
Kick off at 5:40pm.
Teams and further updates to come.
