How they rated
LIAM WILLIAMS
A rare outing at full-back for Wales and crossed for his 12th try after racing on to a looping pass from Gareth Anscombe, but didn’t get many chances to run from deep.
GEORGE NORTH
Was pretty effective while chasing hanging cross-kicks, often getting a hand on the ball and being a nuisance, but didn’t make much headway with ball in hand.
JONATHAN DAVIES
The Lions centre uncharacteristically missed a number of tackles and his radar was off when it came to kicking accurately. On the plus side, he did make one nice break.
HADLEIGH PARKES
Had been quiet this autumn but saved his best to last as he bottled up South Africa’s dangerous attackers in midfield with a big defensive shift.
JOSH ADAMS
The ball didn’t go the wing’s way very often, but he did manage to make some yards on the rare occasions he touched it, while his defence was tested.
GARETH ANSCOMBE
A mixed bag with his kicking out of hand, but he made Liam Williams’s try and troubled the Springbok defence before the break. When the game became more strategic, Warren Gatland replaced him with Dan Biggar, who proceeded to nail two vital penalties.
GARETH DAVIES
Four must be the scrumhalf’s favourite number because he made four runs for four metres and ended with four successful tackles during a quiet outing.
NICKY SMITH
The loosehead made six tackles during his 50 minutes before making way for Rob Evans, but had his hands full against one of the best scrummaging packs in the world.
KEN OWENS
Had some positive moments with his carrying and throwing into the lineout, but his handling skills let him down on occasions while he was also under pressure at the scrum.
TOMAS FRANCIS
Got his first try for Wales and the first by a prop against South Africa, New Zealand or Australia when he was in support of Ellis Jenkins, but was also under the pump scrummaging.
ADAM BEARD
The 22-year-old lock forward has made a significant impact this autumn and piled up the tackles while also standing up to physical opponents.
ALUN WYN JONES (CAPT)
The skipper carried strongly during the opening 40 minutes and got under the skin of the Springboks with his unwillingness to back down during heated confrontations.
JUSTIN TIPURIC
Employed on tackling duties and didn’t see him too much in the open exchanges until he won a vital penalty which Biggar nailed from near the touchline after chasing a kick in the 67th minute.
AARON WAINWRIGHT
The talented 21-year-old, who was unheard of a year ago, was called up to the bench when Dan Lydiate withdrew and was on within 11 minutes for head-injury victim Ross Moriarty.