DON’T LOOK BOK IN ANGER WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL

Gatland so proud of battling Wales as dream of an all-british final dies at the hands of South Africa AGAIN

HANDRE POLLARD’S late penalty ensured more World Cup semi-final heartache for Wales.

Pollard’s kick – his fifth from five attempts – sent South Africa through to Saturday’s final with England as Wales crashed out at the penultimate hurdle for the third time after running out of bodies, escape routes and luck.

Warren Gatland’s men stayed in the fight manfully despite losing prop Tomas Francis (below, left) to a dislocated shoulder and George North (inset, below) to a pulled hamstring before half-time.

But eventually they succumbed to the lumpy, uninspiring Boks.

The crestfallen Wales players were inconsolable, but coach Gatland said they had no reason for regrets.

He said: “I’ve been more disappointed after other games in my career when we haven’t given 100 per cent or haven’t fronted up as a team.

“I can’t ask any more of these players.

“We are really disappointed at not being in the final but we have to be proud of ourselves and enjoy what we’ve achieved.

“We can hold our heads up high and leave Japan with a lot of pride.”

It was Springbok forward power which eventually decided the game with Wales forced to pull down a rumbling lineout drive to concede the penalty which stand-off Pollard (below, right) drilled through the posts in the 76th minute.

Pollard said: “Our forwards were unbelievable. It’s not always visible, but the way they took Wales’ legs away made a big difference towards the end.

“Wales don’t give anything away and we know that. We went in with that mindset, to try and be more patient than them, to keep putting it back onto them when they’re putting it back onto us. We were patient enough tonight.” For patient read boring.

South Africa wanted to give the Welsh rush defence nothing to hit so Faf de Klerk stuck the ball into the sky.

Gareth Davies replied in kind, sending the semi-final into a kind of aerial even-steven.

It only sparked belatedly into life when South Africa centre Damian de Allende shrugged off Dan Biggar’s

attempted tackle to put clear water between the sides for the first time in the 57th minute.

Wales had to chase the game then and a bold call from captain Alun Wyn Jones to go for a scrum close to the Springbok line, rather than kick for points, brought a try eight minutes later.

Ross Moriarty manoeuvred the ball clear from a creaking set-piece for Jonathan Davies to put Josh Adams in and Leigh Halfpenny tied things up from the touchline.

But then came a crucial intervention from replacement Francois Louw, who won an important turnover penalty for South Africa and with it the chance to roll their menacing maul.

Dillon Lewis pulled it down and Pollard put over a difficult chance from 40 metres out near the left-hand touchline to win the game.

Adams’ touchdown took him to six for the tournament and to the top of the tryscoring charts but that was of no consolation.

“I would have given up all my tries to make the final,” he said.

Instead he will have to make do with Friday’s play-off for third place against New Zealand.

The All Blacks are fitting opponents – but it will be an underwhelming stage for Kiwi Gatland’s last ever match in charge of Wales.