We must beat Boks say Gat’s battlers

WALES insist their autumn campaign will be a failure unless they beat South Africa on Saturday.

Warren Gatland’s side suffered a 30th straight defeat to the All Blacks in Cardiff, New Zealand emerging 33-18 winners thanks to try doubles from Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo.

Scott Williams and Gareth Davies crossed for Wales.

Warren Gatland’s side are now determined to go into the Six Nations on a high by recording a victory over the Springboks.

“It’s going to be another tough game and one we really need to win,” said Wales flanker Aaron Shingler. “We just need to do whatever it takes.

“We’ve been pretty entertaining to watch, but we need results for it to be a happy camp at the end of the day.”

Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, whose team trailed by a single point at half-

time said: “Today was very much a missed opportunity. On the back of the first half we had a great chance.

“We played a lot of rugby in the second half, but we will rue the missed opportunities. I think we’re there now with our new style of play and we used the ball a lot in that game, but the execution is the issue.

"The performance was there to some degree, but we will go back and analyse this and try to improve.”

Gatland is set to be without a number of his Aviva Premiership stars against South Africa with Jamie Roberts and Taulupe Faletau in talks with their clubs in the hope of being available.

Tighthead prop Tomas Francis of Exeter Chiefs, said: “Sadly I’m not here next week, but hopefully the boys can finish with a bang.

“There were a few key moments we let slip against New Zealand. But I was quite happy with the scrum.”

Gatland singled out New Zealand’s Ioane and Naholo as the difference between the two teams,

“We were up against a quality side, it was a great Test match and we contributed a lot,” said Wales’ Kiwi boss. “Controlling the big wingers was key.

“At half time we felt in the game and the message was to be accurate. But in a couple of key moments, we weren’t. They were and that gave them the victory.

“We’ve got a couple of key players injured and there’s no doubt Jonathan Davies or George North would have given us something. But it’s about exposing players and getting players ready for the World Cup. We’ve got a big week against South Africa and we could win three in a row against them for the first time. That would be a big thing for us.”

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: “Wales did well and the recipe they’re going with is pretty positive. They’re using the ball more, going to the middle of the park, and then coming back rather than going the same way.

“They had a couple of opportunities that they didn’t finish. We defended well in the first half when we couldn’t get our hands on the ball. In the second half we took our opportunities when we got them.”