Relieved Wales subdue shambolic Springboks
This was only the third time Wales have beaten South Africa in 110 years and was a record win against them as well. And with three wins from four, this also equalled the Dragons’ best return from the autumn series.
Yet it says plenty about where Wales have been this last month, as well as the utterly appalling quality of the South Africans, that the final whistle was greeted with as much of a sigh of relief as a cheer of euphoria.
Of course, Rob Howley’s men should be given credit for withstanding all the flak after their abysmal display against Japan and then for producing such a spirited reaction. Certainly, it was their best performance of the series.
Howley, the stand-in head coach, can point to a largely controlled victory which shows there is some structure to the attacking changes he is introducing. However, any praise must be made with a sizeable acknowledgement to the rank mediocrity they were facing.
This must be one of the worst South Africa teams to tour these islands and Howley seemed to accept that, when casting his mind forwards to the Six Nations. “There’s another level in us,” Howley said. “And we have to go to that level if we’re going to get near England and Ireland. But this is good for us in terms that we’ve got a big scalp and you can’t underestimate Argentina. To beat those two in an autumn series, I deem that as a success.
“Today, I think we were much more consistent in our shape and when you get that and you get players making better decisions then you’re going to stress sides. But I do think we were probably two tries short of what we should have been.”
Indeed they were, as the opponents were a pathetic impression of everything the Springboks represent. They are fully deserving of the ignominy of losing a record eight Tests in a calendar year for their country. Allister Coetzee, the coach, will be sacked; in fact, he will be lucky even to make the journey home without finding a P45 stuffed in his menu on the plane.
The SA Rugby president, Mark Alexander, was sharpening his axe straight afterwards. He said: “Our No 1 priority is a turnaround strategy for the Springbok team and that will be looked at immediately and decisively. I can assure supporters and stakeholders that if tough decisions have to be made we will not shy away from making them.”
Granted, there are bigger problems in Springbok rugby than the identity of the coach; but still, dropping the likes of Bryan Habana and Willie le Roux and making 10 changes in a ridiculously inexperienced XV proved not bold but reckless. Goodness knows where South Africa go from here.
Leigh Halfpenny kicked them to submission with five penalties – another Welsh record against South Africa – but for long periods there was little creativity to inspire the two-thirds ca- pacity crowd. Wales at least tried, but these baby Boks did not seem to have any game plan whatsoever.
The largest shout in a flat first half was the agonising cry from Dan Lydiate when he turned his ankle with a sickening snap. Taulupe Faletau came on for his first appearance of the autumn and his introduction heralded the defining 10 minutes, although that had just as much to do with the yellow card shown to the scrum-half Francois De Klerk in the 43rd minute for cynically knocking on as Biggar was primed to release his backs. A few minutes later hooker Ken Owens scored a try after a driving maul initiated by Faletau’s catch at a line-out Wales had enough momentum to put themselves out of sight, but their profligacy in attack is a glaring weakness.
Remarkably, South Africa somehow managed to muscle their way back into the contest when the flanker Uzair Cassiem powered over.
Anything but a two-try deficit would have been a travesty and Tipuric not only secured the contest but also the man of the match honours with his beautiful footwork. Faletau was again the supplier, but the openside’s finish was simply sublime.
An uplifting moment and an uplifting result regardless of the Springboks failings. And that was probably as much as Wales could have hoped for.