Rugby | Triumphant SpringBoks complete perfect tour in Cardiff
The Springboks beat Wales by 45-12 (half-time 26-5) at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday, after adding three second half tries to their four before the break to finish the Castle Lager Outgoing Tour unbeaten.
The Boks started like a house on fire, scoring two tries within the opening 10 minutes as they overwhelmed the home side in a commanding first half, where at least three more potential tries were left in the cold due to SA players held up over the Welsh try line.
Franco Mostert scored a fourth try in his 78th Test in the opening spell after Cheslin Kolbe found space on the outside and the big lock charged in from a good angle.
Two minutes later it was Eben Etzebeth who followed his lock partner to the tryline. The Boks won the aerial battle following a high ball, it was moved to the left where Kurt-Lee Arendse ran hard before finding the most experienced SA Test player on the inside for the score.
A number of scoring chances went abegging, with Boks held up over the line, but Wales could only hold out so long against their dominant visitors.
Arendse scored 19 minutes in from a good decoy play. From a lineout drive the ball was moved wide and Aphelele Fassi found Arendse in space. The former Blitzbok speedster stepped inside two defenders to score.
A minute after Kolisi’s try was disallowed due to an earlier knock-on, Elrigh Louw scored his first Test try from a massive scrum. Jordan Hendrikse kicked the conversion for a 26-0 lead.
Wales managed to fight back with a late try, with wing Rio Dyer worked over just before the halftime whistle.
The Boks added three more second half tries with Wales again scoring at the death to make it three from three for South Africa on the tour as a great 2024 season came to an end under the roof at the Principality Stadium.
Scorers:
Wales 12 (5) – Tries: Rio Dyer, James Botham. Conversion: Ben Thomas.
Springboks 45 (26) – Tries: Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Elrigh Louw, Aphelele Fassi, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jordan Hendrikse. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (5).
