Wales 12-45 South Africa: Strain on Warren Gatland as Springboks inflict twelfth defeat in a row
World champions South Africa canter to seven-try victory in Cardiff as defeat sees Wales finish 2024 and not using a single Take a look at victory; Warren Gatland refuses to be drawn on future as stress mounts on his place as Wales head coach within the face of unprecedented hunch
Final Up to date: 23/11/24 10:22pm
South Africa signed off their Autumn Nations marketing campaign by including victory in Wales to their wins in Scotland and England
Wales slumped to a twelfth successive Take a look at match defeat and head coach Warren Gatland noticed the stress ramped up on him as world champions South Africa gained 45-12 on the Principality Stadium.
For the primary time since 1937, Wales went an entire calendar yr with out successful a Take a look at, and plenty of will really feel that Gatland’s job is now hanging by a thread.
South Africa weren’t at their greatest, however the unhappy fact for Wales is that they didn’t must be.
The Springboks ran in seven tries – Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Elrigh Louw, Jordan Hendrikse and Gerhard Steenekamp touched down – whereas Hendrikse kicked 5 conversions.
- Autumn Nations Collection: Full fixtures and outcomes
- Sky Sports activities to indicate 2025 Lions tour of Australia
- Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract
Wales – Tries: Dyer (41), Botham (80); Conversions: Thomas (80).
South Africa – Tries: Mostert (7), Etzebeth (9), Arendse (20), Louw (35), Fassi (54), Steenekamp (62), J Hendrike (76); Conversions: J Hendrikse (7, 21, 35, 63, 77).
Wales claimed comfort scores from wing Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham, with Ben Thomas including one conversion, however the recreation was performed contained in the opening quarter after South Africa posted three tries.
Whether or not Gatland, who has now misplaced 18 of 24 Checks since returning for a second stint as head coach, stays in cost for a frightening Six Nations opener towards France in Paris on January 31 should be a topic of big debate.
No matter occurs, although, Wales are on the lowest level of their 143-year worldwide rugby historical past, and there seems no respite any time quickly.
Strain mounts on Gatland as Wales finish 2024 winless
Wales confirmed two late modifications, with wing Tom Rogers dominated out by a calf muscle damage and prop Gareth Thomas lacking out via sickness. Gloucester again Josh Hathaway changed Rogers, with Nicky Smith taking on from Thomas.
Franco Mostert scythed via the Wales defence for South Africa’s first rating
It took South Africa simply six minutes to open their account after a transfer solid by skipper Siya Kolisi’s sturdy run ended with Mostert sprinting over unopposed and Hendrikse changing.
Mostert’s second-row companion Etzebeth then rounded off fantastic work by Arendse and Wales had been already dealing with damage-limitation as fly-half Sam Costelow went off for a head damage evaluation.
Centre Ben Thomas moved to the quantity 10 function with Scarlets centre Eddie James happening however South Africa added a 3rd strive contained in the opening quarter after Arendse touched down broad out and Hendrikse transformed.
Eben Etzebeth cantered over for South Africa’s second strive
Costelow rejoined the motion and Wales managed to safe some scraps of possession earlier than Etzebeth went off injured 11 minutes earlier than half-time and was changed by RG Snyman.
South Africa twice noticed gamers held up over the Wales line, then Kolisi had a strive disallowed following a knock-on in method play by scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.
Kurt-Lee Arendse sidestepped is manner over as South Africa moved right into a 19-0 lead inside 20 minutes
However the Springboks didn’t have lengthy to attend for strive quantity 4, with Wales unable to deal with their power-runners, and Louw crossed between the posts.
Jordan Hendrikse’s conversion made it 26-0, but Wales managed the ultimate scoring act of a hopelessly one-sided opening half when Dyer completed strongly on his first look of the autumn marketing campaign.
It was his eighth worldwide strive, and not less than ensured Wales opened their account, albeit towards a Springboks aspect that had hardly ever moved out of third gear.
Wing Rio Dyer raced over within the nook as Wales bought on the board with the ultimate play of the primary half
Costelow didn’t reappear for the second interval – James got here again on – and there was additionally a Take a look at debut off the bench for Gloucester ahead Freddie Thomas, who changed Taine Plumtree and went into the back-row.
It took South Africa till 14 minutes into the second interval to extend their benefit, and it was Arendse’s jinking working that created area for Fassi, who crossed on the overlap.
Alternative prop Steenekamp claimed South Africa’s sixth strive, transformed by Jordan Hendrikse, and Wales nonetheless had 17 minutes left earlier than their distress can be over.
Jordan Hendrikse then added a remaining strive that he additionally transformed, and Wales may escape to the sanctuary of their altering room after Botham’s late effort.
‘Let’s examine what occurs’ – Gatland coy on future
Wales head coach Warren Gatland instructed TNT Sports activities: “It is about seeing what the Welsh Rugby Union has to say.
“You do not decide straight after a recreation, it is all the time robust coming to a press convention straight after a recreation earlier than you have had time to catch your breath and have a look at a number of the stats and numbers. Let’s simply see what occurs over the subsequent few days.
“With a younger group of gamers, I believe they’re going to be taught an enormous quantity from as we speak’s recreation towards the world champions and hopefully there is a step up subsequent time after they play at this degree with the depth and physicality {that a} staff like South Africa deliver.”
‘We had been the place Wales are’ – Kolisi
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi instructed TNT Sports activities: “We had been the place Wales are a few years in the past. The one factor I can say is you simply cannot cease believing.
“Should you have a look at their beginning backline, certainly one of our guys had extra caps than all of them. You must be reasonable about these items.
“A few of them are getting their first few caps, it takes time to construct. So long as they preserve working onerous and preserve believing issues will change, subsequent yr they are going to be a little bit bit extra skilled and may give a bit extra.
“Issues can take time. I am so grateful for the folks of Wales who nonetheless got here out to help them, as a result of it is a proud rugby nation similar to South Africa.
“Now we have a lot respect for the Welsh, that is why we had our greatest staff on the sector and we gave the whole lot. I’ve little doubt that Wales will choose it up.”
What’s subsequent?
Wales journey to France for the opening recreation of the 2025 Six Nations on Friday, January 31 (kick-off 8.15pm).
