BEATEN PIVAC FULL OF PRIDE
Boss salutes his Welsh battlers
WALES boss Wayne Pivac was frustrated but proud of his players as their three-test tour of South Africa ended in defeat. “I’m a little frustrated with the scoreline and disappointed with that but certainly not disappointed with the effort that’s gone into the last six weeks,” he said.
“We came here to try to win the series and we were serious about that. The players came together well and we can take a lot of positives from that.
‘‘I’m pleased to have got the history of last week’s win but today there were some moments where their pressure paid dividends for them.
“There was a charge down in the 22 and then a couple of lineouts in attacking situations that were not straight and overthrown.we will learn from that but in all I’m pleased with the tour itself.”
With talisman Eben Etzebeth earning his 100th cap in his home city, the Springboks came out fired up and hit the front through a penalty by Handre Pollard (below).
All the early pressure came from the hosts and they were denied by the TMO twice in the opening 10 minutes as Makazole Mapimpi put a foot in touch and Damian de Allende was stopped short of the tryline.
But the dam eventually broke when Pollard powered his way over after 13 minutes.
With the playing surface crumbling under the players’ feet,wales settled nicely.
A sweeping move that involved plenty of George North saw Tommy Reffell charge his way over after 18 minutes, though Dan Biggar’s conversion was pushed wide before the fly-half chipped away with a penalty in the 32nd minute. However South Africa finished the half strongly aswales’ discipline crumbled and hooker Bongi Mbonambi, earning his 50th cap, crossed.
Pollard’s conversion meant it was 17-8 at the break.
Biggar knocked over two quick penalties at the start of the half but South Africa continued to threaten, with Lukhanyo Am being called back after a forward pass.
But they would soon cross for a five-pointer when captain Siya Kolisi tumbled over after a series of powerful carries from the Bok forwards. Pollard added the extras to wipe out Biggar’s second-half kicks.
A gutsywelsh side refused to be blown away, though, and they showed signs of life with breaks up the far touchline from Tomos Williams and Josh Adams – unfortunately some inaccurate lineout throwing in key positions undermined all their good efforts.
Wales could not capitalise when momentum swung their way and Pollard sealed victory – and a 2-1 series win – for the Boks with two late penalties.