How they rated

LIAM WILLIAMS

Soft skills saw him send out a flat pass that put Louis Rees-Zammit over for try. Involved in a skirmish with Damian de Allende but epitomised Welsh spirit.

7 LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT

Give this man an inch and he’ll take an entire motorway. Coasted over for a superb first try and more alert than anyone as he claimed his second.

GEORGE NORTH

Not in the game much in opening half, aside from nice pass for first Welsh score. Some decent defence after the break but saw little ball and couldn’t impose himself.

NICK TOMPKINS

Played a key role in Rees-Zammit’s try as he contested at back of the line. Also defended gamely, chased hard and displayed some trademark enthusiasm.

JOSH ADAMS

Did enough to avert danger from dangerous high kick from Elton Jantjies in opening half but saw little ball and couldn’t make a major mark.

DAN BIGGAR

Fine drop-goal. Made a try-saving tackle but also a yellow card for killing ball. Penalised for knock-on at end, with decisive three points resulting. His effort didn’t deserve that.

KIERAN HARDY

The catalyst for Wales’ bright start with some outstanding box-kicking. On the whole, he finished in credit.

STAR MAN: TAULUPE FALETAU

His worth to Wales simply cannot be overstated. Regularly made ground with ball in hand and brought Etzebeth crashing down with a brave tackle. Deserved a medal for his work in defending maul just before break.

REPLACEMENTS

Dewi Lake 8– Great try summed up Welsh defiance; Rhys Carre 5 – Some decent carries but yellow-carded; Alun Wyn Jones 5 – Sin-binned, then not sin-binned, then the referee decided he should indeed be sin-binned; Josh Navidi 6 – Some solid tackling; Tomos Williams 5 – Questionable decision to kick the ball at end; Owen Watkin 6 – Manned up; Tomas Francis N/A – Injured after a minute on field; not on long enough to mark.

SOUTH AFRICA

Willemse; Kolbe, Am, de Allende, Mapimpi; Elton Jantjies (le Roux 41), de Klerk (Hershel Jantjies 71); Nche (Marx 48), Mbonambi (Kitshoff 48), Malherbe (Koch 48), Etzebeth (Moerat 70), De Jager, Kolisi (Smith 51), Mostert (Elrigh Louw 51), Wiese.

REFEREE

Nika Amashukeli (Georgia).

8 5 7 5 7 7 GARETH THOMAS

Put in a solid shift without any scrummaging alarms and also fronted up with his tackling. Looks likely to hold his place for second Test.

RYAN ELIAS

Manned the barricades for 50 minutes and didn’t do a lot wrong as Wales began well.

6 Always in the thick of it.

A solid effort from the Scarlets hooker.

DILLON LEWIS

Conceded two penalties in first 25 minutes, one of which was at a scrum he collapsed. Stuck at it and came back to see the game out after Tomas Francis’ injury.

WILL ROWLANDS

Played a critical role in the first try, nicking the line-out and then taking play forward. Led

9 the way in defence with 16 tackles. Didn’t deserve to leave the field a loser

ADAM BEARD

The pack leader couldn’t get his hands on the ball in an attacking sense but defended well

7 and teamed up with Faletau to African maul threat before break.

DAN LYDIATE

Nothing headline-grabbing, but lots of graft. Always there for unglamorous jobs. Gave

7 away penalty for off feet early in the second half. Subbed not long after.

TOMMY REFFELL 6 6

An excellent effort on debut, tackling his heart out and achieving two turnovers.

8 Then brought down de Jager in full flight. Didn’t stop working.

9