South Africa made light work of brushing aside a Wales side whose coach Warren Gatland had believed they were “good enough to win”.
SOUTH AFRICA (28) 38
Tries: Habana 2, Vermeulen, Le Roux, Hendricks Cons: Steyn 5 Pens: Steyn
WALES (9) 16
Tries: Cuthbert Cons: Hook Pens: Biggar Drop-goal: Biggar 2
The hosts ran in five tries in a one-sided display in Durban.
Bryan Habana took his Springboks try tally to 53 with a brace. Duane Vermeulen, Willie le Roux and Cornal Hendricks also crossed.
Wales’ Dan Biggar dropped two goals and kicked a penalty while Alex Cuthbert scored a memorable consolation try.
Home fly-half Morne Steyn kicked all his goals – five conversions and a penalty – and coach Heyneke Meyer will have been pleased that a team dubbed ‘Dad’s Army’ by some sections of the South African media were more than a match for a side that started with 10 British and Irish Lions.
The Springboks were particularly potent in their driving forward play and they won the back-row battle at the breakdown hands down.
Wales may have suffered for the absence of regular captain and open-side Sam Warburton and his rival Justin Tipuric.
But the visitors’ defence was often slow to react and they paid the price as South Africa’s record against Wales was extended to 26 wins, one defeat and a draw.
Gatland was confident before kick-off that Wales had the players to beat the hosts for the first time on South African soil.
And Biggar underlined that belief with a neat third-minute drop-goal after the visitors retained early possession.
But some of the reasons Wales were seeking only a second win over the Springboks in 28 attempts spanning 107 years became apparent as the Springboks built a healthy lead.
Robust driving play from the home pack paved the way for outstanding full-back Willie le Roux to chip ahead.
Habana won the foot-race and touched down inside the dead-ball line and Steyn converted from near the touch line.
Wales centre Jamie Roberts was then sin-binned for tackling Le Roux in the air, and the hosts took full advantage, scoring two tries in his absence as the driving line-out play for which they are renowned paid dividends.
Veteran captain Victor Matfield and lock partner Bakkies Botha were to the fore, allowing scrum-half Fourie du Preez to send number eight Vermeulen over.
Steyn again converted and after a brief period of Welsh pressure that ended with Biggar’s second drop-goal, Habana got his second.
Le Roux out-paced makeshift Wales open-side Aaron Shingler before freeing the Toulon wing.
Wales suffered another blow when Ospreys tight-head prop Adam Jones, winning his 100th Test cap, was forced off and replaced by Scarlets’ 21-year-old Samson Lee in the 31st minute.
And as the opening period drew to a close, Le Roux’s sensational display was rewarded with a clever solo try.
His chip over Wales’ defence bounced awkwardly for opposite number Liam Williams and Le Roux gathered before slipping out of George North’s challenge.
Biggar then slotted his first penalty attempt to keep up his 100% record with the boot and leave Wales trailing 28-9 at the break.
The gap was extended soon after the restart as Steyn sent over his first penalty shot and debut-making wing Cornel Hendricks went over for the hosts’ fifth try before the hour was up.
And as the final quarter beckoned, two old stagers who have suffered serious illnesses entered the fray.
Former Wales captain Matthew Rees replaced Ken Owens at hooker having had successful treatment for testicular cancer this season and Springboks flanker Schalk Burger, 31, came on after his recovery from bacterial meningitis.
If Wales had been outplayed, it was two moments of individual brilliance from the tourists that lit up the closing stages.
Replacement scrum-half Gareth Davies, making his debut, made a telling 60-metre break and took what looked a scoring return pass from Biggar only for it to be deemed forward.
And Cuthbert then broke free from his own 22m line, cutting past Habana and outpacing Le Roux to touch down, with Biggar’s replacement, James Hook, adding the conversion.
Teams
South Africa: Willie le Roux; Cornal Hendricks, JP Pietersen, Jan Serfontein, Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Gurthro Steenkamp, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield (captain), Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Schalk Brits, Tendai Mtawarira, Coenie Oosthuizen, Lood de Jager, Schalk Burger, Ruan Pienaar, Johan Goosen Lwazi Mvovo.
Wales: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Dan Lydiate, Aaron Shingler, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Matthew Rees, Paul James, Samson Lee, Ian Evans, Josh Turnbull, Gareth Davies, James Hook, Matthew Morgan.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
