Pain and ecstasy: Jean de Villiers goes over for the first of South Africa’s three tries, while Jonathan Davies recoils in pain

By Owain Jones

In a nutshell

THE GAME set-off at a furious pace with Jonathan Davies, twice, make telling incursions behind the Springbok defence but after South Africa scored their first try, against the run of play, through a brilliant Jean de Villiers score – with Bryan Habana and Bismarck du Plessis to the fore – the balance swung back in the Springboks’ direction. In that passage of play, Wales lost Davies and Liam Williams to injury and with it momentum and shape. When Adam Jones left the field after 30 minutes, many may have feared the worst. In truth it was a breathless and brutal first-half, Du Plessis had already powered over for a second score after 16 minutes, but Wales held firm and after 60 minutes, the boot of Leigh Halfpenny had pegged South Africa back to 17-15, as the crowd sensed a famous victory. It was then that Fourie du Preez scored the game’s defining try after a midfield scramble fell in teh Springboks favour. Wales continued to press deep into the Springbok half, earning more territory and possession, but they couldn’t convert the all important score and when referee Alain Rolland blew up, a 3-0 try-count told a familiar story. Wales, despite their bravery and brio, had failed to inflict a loss on a Southern Hemisphere opponent for a seventeenth consecutive time.

Frustration: George North had a tough evening

Key moment: Fourie du Preez try, 64mins

Over the space of 50 minutes, after South Africa’s second-score, Wales clawed back an 11-point deficit to just two points, knowing the next score could be crucial. After a high-ball was lofted, it came off Hook’s shoulder and bounced back to South Africa, Du Preez spotted the space down the left flank and put in a teasing kick with his favourite left boot. With the help of a fortuitous bounce, Fourie, who replays show clearly offside when Du Preez kicked the ball, picked up the ball, spun cleverly and passed inside to the advancing Du Preez to gather and go in under the posts. It was a mortal blow to Wales’ chances of defeating South Africa for the first time in 14 years.

Star man: Willem Alberts

At 6ft 4ins and nearly 19st Alberts is built more like a lock, but he put in an supreme 18 tackles over 65 minutes. However, it waa a few key tackles, that made all the difference to to complexion of the game. He repeatedly drove Welsh tacklers into the cut-up Millennium Stadium turf, including Wales’ twin battering rams, Richard Hibbard and Bradley Davies, leaving them battered and bruised. It was an archetypal Bok enforcer job done with a brutal edge, but Alberts also showed soft hands in midfield and hard yards at the breakdown. It was huge performance for the team. Honourable mention must go to Richard Hibbard who was magnificent for Wales.

Stats

Wales carried the ball 349 metres, compared to South Africa’s 258

Wales made 84 tackles, missing 8, a completion rate of 91 per cent. South Africa made 94 tackles, missed 15, with a completion rate of 86 per cent

Wales beat 15 defenders compared to South Africa’s eight

Wales’ top tacklers were Sam Warburton, Rhys Priestland and Justin Tipuric (who came on after 63mins) with seven. South Africa’s top tacklers were Willem Alberts with 18 tackles, followed by Francois Louw with 10

Jonathan Davies was Wales’ top ball-carrier, carrying 46 metres (he left the field after 12mins), followed by James Hook on 45. South Africa’s top ball carrier was Bryan Habana with 60 metres, followed by Fourie du Preez on 47 and Willie Le Roux on 46

Battering ram: du Plessis put in a muscular performance

Scorers

Wales

Pens: Leigh Halfpenny (5)

South Africa

Tries: Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Fourie du Preez

Pens: Steyn (1). Cons: Morne Steyn (2), Pat Lambie (1)

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies (Ashley Beck, 13), Scott Williams, Liam Williams (James Hook), Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips (Lloyd Williams); Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard (Ken Owens, 63), Adam Jones (Scott Andrews, 30, replaced by Paul James 40), Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones (Luke Charteris, 72), Dan Lydiate (Justin Tipuric, 63), Sam Warburton (c), Toby Faletau

South Africa: Pat Lambie, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn (Willie le Roux, 17), Fourie du Preez (Ruan Pienaar); Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis (Adriaan Strauss, 63), Frans Malherbe (Coenie Oosthuizen, 53), Eben Etzebeth (Peter-Steph du Toit, 68), Flip van der Merwe, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts (Siya Kolisi), Duane Vermeulen

Replacements: Gurthro Steenkamp, JJ Engelbrecht