Seven-try Springboks pile pressure on Gatland as Wales end 2024 winless

South Africa ran over seven tries during a 12-45 demolition of Wales as the World Cup winners leave the Autumn Nations Series with a perfect record.

Tries from Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Elrigh Louw, Aphelele Fassi, Gerhard Steenekamp and Jordan Hendrikse saw the Springboks run out winners by 33 points.

The Springboks dominated from the opening minutes with attack after attack resulting in Mostert and Etzebeth both scoring.

Etzebeth could be crowned World Player of the Year but was taken off with 29 minutes gone, not before Anderson had ran over a third try.

The opening three tries were courtesy of quick passing, but the Springboks showed their power with a fourth as Louw surged over.

Wales had rare attacks into their opponents’ 22-metre line and gave the Principality Stadium something to cheer as Rio Dyer scored their first points seconds before the break.

South Africa made a host of changes after the break but added to their tally with clever play resulting in Fassi and Steenekamp adding a fifth and six try respectively.

Springbok fly-half Hendrikse finished his side’s scoring with a seventh score as the visitors leave the Northern hemisphere undefeated.

Wales would have the final say and were rewarded for their pressure as James Botham went over for his side’s second score a minute before full-time.

The Welsh Rugby Union will have a lot to assess following a string of Autumn Nations Series defeats and an unwanted record run of 12 defeats.

The Springboks have brought in fresh blood this season but have experienced heads within their ranks for them to learn off and fit in alongside.

Regardless of whether Gatland stays in charge of Wales, the team has a lot of developing to do before they can consider competing against the world’s best.

The Springboks winger played a key part of the visitors attack which was unplayable at times.

Attacking alongside the likes of Fassi and Hendrikse the South African backs showed how devastating they were with ball in hand.

It could have been more tries if the Springboks had continued with their relentless pressure in the second half.

However, the tempo dropped as changes were made, but Arendse remained a consistent threat throughout.

Wales: Smith, Lake 7, Griffin 6, Rowlands 6, Tshiunza 6, Botham 7, Morgan 7, Plumtree 6, Bevan 6, Costelow 6, Dyer 7, B Thomas 6, Llewellyn 6, Hathaway 7, Murray 6. Replacements: Elias 6, Assiratti 6, F Thomas 6, Reffell 6, Williams 6, James 6, Mathias 6, Watkin 6

South Africa: Du Toit 7, Grobbelaar 7, Louw 8, Etzebeth 7, Mostert 8, Kolisi 8, Louw 8, Wiese 7, J Hendrikse 7, J Hendrikse 8, Arendse 8, De Allende 7, Kriel 7, Kolbe 7, Fassi 8. Replacements: Marx 6, Steenekamp 6, Koch 7, Van Staden 6, Snyman 6, Hanekom 6, Reinach 6, Pollard 7.

5’ – TRY! WALES 0 SOUTH AFRICA 7 (MOSTERT): Quick passing along the line is held up before the ball is played back inside for second row Mostert who races away to score the opening try. The kick is good by Hendrikse to give his side a seven-point lead.

8’ – TRY! WALES 0 SOUTH AFRICA 12 (ETZEBETH): South Africa win the ball at the breakdown before the ball is played along the line to Arendse. Just as the winger is challenged Etzebeth is on his inside and charges over the whitewash. The conversion is wide.

18’ – TRY! WALES 0 SOUTH AFRICA 19 (ARENDSE): It’s a third try for South Africa after the ball comes out the side of the driving maul. The ball is quickly passed wide where Arendse is on hand to skip between two covering defenders to cross. The try is converted from a difficult angle by Hendrikse

34’ – TRY! WALES 0 SOUTH AFRICA 26 (LOUW): This time it’s the power of South Africa that pays. From a scrum the ball is driven forward by Wiese who is held up on the try-line. However, Louw is on hand to make the final surge.The conversion is good by Hendrikse

40’ – TRY! WALES 5 (DYER) SOUTH AFRICA 26: The Wales pressure eventually tells as Bevan plays a long ball into the hands of Dyer who sprints through and just manages to ground the ball. The conversion is wide.

53’ – TRY! WALES 5 SOUTH AFRICA 31 (FASSI): South Africa score a fifth try after the ball is played out to Arendse who draws in defenders with a surging run and allows Fassi to go over. The conversion is missed.

61’ – TRY! WALES 5 SOUTH AFRICA 38 (STEENEKAMP): The power, strength and fresh legs of South Africa eventually pay. The ball is played out of the scrum and then driven forward. It is replacement Steenekamp who scores his side’s sixth try. Hendrikse converts

75’ – TRY! WALES 5 SOUTH AFRICA 45 (HENDRIKSE): It’s a seventh try for South Africa grounded by Hendrikse. It’s Pollard who charges through the Wales line before finding Reinach and then releasing Hendrikse. Hendrikse also converts his own try.

80’ – TRY! WALES 12 (BOTHAM) SOUTH AFRICA 45: Wales are rewarded for their efforts. Drive after drive is held up by their visitors until Botham finds his way through a pack of bodies to ground the ball. The try is converted.

• South Africa carried the ball 1,049 metres compared to Wales’ 196 metres