The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

Springboks end their Welsh hoodoo with a dramatic success

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World champions South Africa yesterday ended a run of four successive away defeats against Wales by claiming a dramatic victory at the Principali­ty Stadium.

Despite being without injured captain Alun Wyn Jones and a host of other absent British and Irish Lions, Wales delivered a towering performanc­e, with flyhalf Dan Bigger kicking six penalties.

Biggar’s sixth successful penalty put Wales back in front at 18-15, although there was drama a minute earlier when Wales attacked through Liam Williams just as a spectator ran on to the pitch only a few metres away from him.

Williams had to jump over the pitch invader before he was duly led away, although Wales would not have scored.

Handre Pollard kicked four penalties and Frans Steyn one for South Africa, yet Wales bounced back superbly from a 54-16 drubbing against New Zealand last weekend.

Biggar kicked Wales into the lead through a 10th-minute penalty, but Pollard landed an equalising strike two minutes later as persistent drizzle swirled around the stadium.

Biggar restored Wales’ advantage through a second penalty, while South Africa saw Willemse go off for a head injury assessment as Steyn joined the action.

A tight opening quarter reached its conclusion with South Africa showing an early sign of scrum dominance and Pollard kicking a second penalty to make it 6-6.

South Africa attempted to launch their main ball-carriers at Wales, but the home side defended superbly, with Jenkins at the forefront.

Biggar completed his penalty hat-trick 13 minutes before the break, and referee Paul Williams’ growing impatience at South Africa’s poor technical discipline saw him engage in a lengthy conversati­on with Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi.

South Africa then saw prop Ox Nche yellowcard­ed for obstructio­n on Tompkins, and Biggar’s fourth successful penalty opened up a six-point advantage.

But even though Wales had prop Rhys Carre sin-binned for a technical infringeme­nt, they deservedly claimed a 12-9 interval lead after Pollard landed a third penalty.

Wales were forced into a defensive rearguard, but they tackled and harried magnificen­tly before breaking away, forcing South Africa to infringe, and Biggar kicked a 45-metre penalty.

It was a stirring effort by the home side, and although the Springboks looked more threatenin­g in attack than during the first half, it required a 52-metre penalty from Steyn for their next points.

South Africa, however, had other ideas, breaking into Wales’ half from 70 metres out, but wing Makazole Mapimpi had a try disallowed, and the home side retained their narrow advantage before Marx struck following a relentless­lydriven lineout, but Elton Jantjies missed the conversion.

Jantjies’ final kick penalty, though, meant South Africa sealed the deal and finally broke Welsh resistance.

 ?? ?? Duane Vermeulen of South Africa is tackled by Adam Beard of Wales
Duane Vermeulen of South Africa is tackled by Adam Beard of Wales

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