HALFPENNY SAVES THE DAY FOR WALES
WALES 24 SOUTH AFRICA 22
Wales yesterday went close to losing a game they should have won comfortably before edging it against South Africa in Cardiff.
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny’s 68th-minute penalty saved the day after the Springboks fought back from 18 points adrift just before half-time to lead in the final quarter.
The Welsh took a fifth-minute lead when fly-half Dan Biggar’s superbly-placed kick was caught at full speed by wing Hallam Amos, who cut inside before delivering a scoring pass to Williams.
Biggar struck again with another teasing kick over the top of South Africa’s defence that this time Parkes collected for a debut Test try before Halfpenny’s conversion made it 14-0.
Pollard opened South Africa’s account with a penalty nine minutes before half-time, before an attempted Andries Coetzee clearance kick was charged down by Biggar and No. 8 Taulupe Faletau sent Parkes over unopposed and Halfpenny converted.
South Africa kept their slender hopes alive when wing Dillyn Leyds ran from inside his own 22, and a flowing move ended with Kriel kicking into space and Gelant marking his first Test start by winning a race to score.
Pollard added the extras to cut Wales’ advantage, yet South Africa still had it all to do, trailing 21-10 at the break.
South Africa, though, looked up to the task, and a 46th-minute Pollard try gave Wales cause for concern.
But the Springboks were on a roll, and they went ahead for the first time nine minutes later as Kriel rounded off a crisp move by brushing aside Halfpenny’s challenge to claim a try that Pollard converted.
However, Halfpenny’s matchwinning penalty wrapped up the home win.