Wales sweep away Boks to extend winning run

WALES SOUTH AFRICA 20 11

WALES completed a first clean sweep of autumn Tests and extended their unbeaten run to nine after toppling South Africa 20-11.

First-half tries by prop Tomas Francis and full-back Liam Williams sent Wales on the way to a fourth successive victory over the Springboks.

But it was a tense and tight affair, with South Africa responding to a 14-point deficit inside 16 minutes by hitting back through centre Jesse Kriel’s touchdown, plus a penalty apiece from Handre Pollard and Elton Jantjies.

Wales ultimately prevailed, claiming a 10th win from 12 starts this year, with fly-half Gareth Anscombe kicking two conversions and Dan Biggar landing 68th and 72nd-minute penalties.

Flanker Ellis Jenkins, a late replacement in the starting line-up for an injured Dan Lydiate, took his chance superbly, but he suffered a nasty-looking injury during the dying seconds and was carried off.

Skipper Alun Wyn Jones was not far behind Jenkins in terms of work-rate and impact, and Biggar made a key contribution off the bench.

Jenkins made his presence felt just 10 minutes in, making a superb run inside South Africa’s 22 before foxing Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx by throwing a dummy pass, and Francis capitalised by claiming his first Test touchdown. Anscombe converted, and Wales were off and running, and a second try arrived six minutes later.

Wales had an attacking scrum 15 metres out, before Gareth Davies rifled possession to Anscombe, whose long floated pass found Williams, and the Saracens back finished impressively.

A touchline conversion opened up a 14-point advantage, although Pollard soon opened the Springboks’ account through a long-range penalty.

South Africa dominated early in the second period, yet they encountered a powerful Wales defence led by Jenkins and skipper Jones.

But the breakthrough arrived after 56 minutes when sustained Springboks pressure was rewarded after number eight Duane Vermeulen tore at the heart of Wales’ defensive line, before possession was moved wide and fullback Willie Le Roux sent an unmarked Kriel over.

South Africa then made further inroads, with Jantjies booting an angled penalty to make it 14-11, setting up a tense final quarter that started with Biggar replacing Anscombe as Wales sought possession and territory.

And the Northampton number 10 immediately made his presence felt, assuming tactical control just when Wales needed it, before kicking two late penalties that ensured Wales maintained winning momentum and positioned themselves impressively ahead of another Six Nations challenge.