World champions South Africa secured a hard-fought 37-21 victory over Six Nations winners Wales on Saturday to wrap up the two-Test series 2-0.
The ‘Boks led 17-15 at the break, but unlike in the first Test in Bloemfontein, they were made to work extremely hard for this result.
Wales were a far better side than the score suggests, with the world champions scoring two of their tries only late in the game.
PHOTO: AP
Wales led 21-20 with 20 minutes to be played, but ran out of steam at the end, allowing the ‘Boks to add two tries to their two scored in the first half.
“The final score flattered the ‘Boks. I’m proud of how the guys came out and lifted their game,” Wales coach Warren Gatland said. “I thought it was a really positive for us and we’re looking forward to the end of year tour when we face the ‘Boks again.”
Victorious South Africa coach Peter de Villiers said he expected nothing less than a fired-up Wales side.
“This is what Test rugby is all about,” de Villiers said. “The Welsh confidence grew as the game went on and our defense battled at times out there. We simply didn’t commit enough players at the breakdowns and that cost us at times.”
Wales were first on the board after five minutes with a Stephen Jones penalty, but the ‘Boks hit back quickly and by the halfway point of the first period, South Africa had opened up an 11-point advantage.
First, center Jean de Villiers crashed over from close range after a period of sustained pressure by the home side. Butch James converted the score to hand the ‘Boks a 7-3 lead and seven minutes later it was the turn of recalled scrum-half Ricky Januarie to power his way over the line. But the powerful start by the home side, in which they at times opted to run the ball out of their own 22, would not last as a passionate and highly committed Wales outfit tackled superbly and competed for everything at every phase.
The ‘Boks were rocked on the 20 minute mark when a Wales line-out put in was taken in the front by Jonathan Thomas, who pushed the ball back to scrum-half Gareth Cooper. He rounded Smit and dashed upfield, leaving Tonderai Chavangha in his wake.
Wales then took the lead for the first time with eight minutes to go to the break when Shane Williams picked up a loose ball on the half-way line, rounded Smit, before dashing up field and beating five ‘Boks defenders with his side-stepping run to score a wonderful try.
The ‘Boks regained the lead on the stroke of halftime with a James penalty, but they would have been ruing a number of good try-scoring chances they missed when they looked back on their first 40 minutes in the changing room.
James restored a five-point lead for the ‘Boks after the restart, but by the 60th minute Wales had again snuck in front, 21-20, after two further Jones penalties.
The ‘Boks though again edged ahead a few minutes later through James’ boot, before a late surge by the home side saw them score tries by de Villiers, his second, and replacement hooker Bismarck du Plessis right at the end. James converted both scores to ensure victory.
Argentina 14, Scotland 26
AFP, BUENOS AIRES
Full-back Chris Paterson celebrated becoming Scotland’s most-capped player by scoring 13 points in his team’s 26-14 win over Argentina on Saturday.
The result, which squared the two-Test series at 1-1 following the Pumas 21-15 victory last weekend, also gave the Scots their first away win against Argentina who were World Cup third-place finishers last year.
Yesterday’s Pacific Nations Cup results:
• Samoa 15, Australia A 20
• Japan 35, Tonga 13
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