While the performance in Cardiff reflected glimpses of brilliance from the number one ranked side in the world, there were also lapses in concentration after a long season of intense competition.
The Boks outscored Wales by seven tries to two in a match where numerous scoring opportunities were not taken, but the quality of those converted were there for all to see.
Four first half tries all but secured the victory for the visitors, and three more in the second half confirmed the status of the best team in the world in 2024, but the Boks will also be the first to give credit to the Welsh, who never stopped trying as late tries in each half proved.
But on the day where the Boks celebrated another successful season, the home side slumped to their worst run of defeats ever.
Franco Mostert scored the first try and was named Man of the Match.
It would have been clear to the home crowd early on that another long evening was on the cards as the Springboks started like the champions they are. They scored two tries within the opening 10 minutes as they overwhelmed the home side in a commanding display of attacking prowess, with at least three more potential tries not converted as Wales managed to hold the Boks up over the tryline, or the South Africans lost the ball with the line in sight.
Franco Mostert opened the scoring with a fourth try in his 78th Test in a dazzling opening spell after Cheslin Kolbe found space on the outside and the Bok 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 from a high ball, it was moved to the left where Kurt-Lee Arendse ran hard before finding South Africa’s most experienced Test player on the inside for the try.
More scoring chances went abegging though as the were held up over the line twice despite dominating play, but Wales could only hang on for so long against their relentless visitors.
Kurt-Lee Arendse was a handful on attack.
Arendse scored 19 minutes in from a good decoy play. From a lineout drive the ball was moved wide and Aphelele Fassi found the former Blitzbok speedster in space, with the wing stepping inside two defenders to score.
After a “try” by Siya Kolisi was disallowed by the TMO for an earlier knock-on, Elrigh Louw recovered that advantage in no time when he scored his first Test try a minute later off the back of 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 second half followed the same trait with the Boks lining up to score, only for unforced mistakes to spoil the party.
Cameron Hanekom was introduced to Test rugby after 41 minutes, replacing Elrigh Louw at flanker, and three minutes later the three front rowers were replaced, ironically just after winning a scrum penalty.
More silly mistakes were creeping into the Boks’ game, but against a team depleted of confidence and belief, these were not punished.
Arendse finally applied some magic potion to the Boks’ pot and sent Fassi over for a try, 14 minutes into a half of total dominance.
Leading 31-5 with 20 minutes left, a huge win was on the cards. A first Test try for Gerhard Steenekamp had Potchefstroom, Pretoria and half of the Cardiff crowd up on their feet, with Hendrikse kicking the conversion to push the Boks out to a 38-5 lead.
Hendrikse scored his first Test try with five minutes left and converted to push the lead to 40 points, but a late Welsh try gave the home crowd some respite on a night where all celebrations were dressed in green and gold.
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).
