Wales win mind games but lose out on discipline
What worked
Getting under Springboks’ skin
Dan Biggar admitted that Wales had intended to get under South Africa’s skin and throw the world champions off their game on Saturday.
It worked, with a notable example being Cheslin Kolbe losing his cool late in the second half with the match on a knife-edge following a subtle shove by Biggar and George North. “We wanted to get in their faces, not take a backward step,” Biggar said. “If you stand off South Africa, you’re going to get steamrolled pretty quickly.”
Wales refused to back down from any flashpoints between passages of play, which seemed to irritate the Springboks. Combine that with South Africa’s play in the first half being littered with inaccuracies in their kicking game and at the setpiece, and it was no wonder they were wound up.
Clinical edge
Wales’s attack has often been a cause for concern, so it was refreshing to see them take a chance with Louis Rees-zammit’s first try.
Stemming from a line-out steal after good work by Will Rowlands, all the backs bar Josh Adams had a touch as Wales worked the ball along the line, forcing Damian Willemse to burst up, leaving space behind before Rees-zammit turned on the jets.
That kind of execution off turnover ball will have pleased Wayne Pivac and attack coach Stephen Jones, because Wales have not always been so clinical.
What did not work Discipline
Even if you argue that Rees-zammit was harshly penalised with a yellow card after making a turnover on Willie le Roux following an excellent tackle, you are obviously going to struggle to win Tests if you concede four yellow cards.
While the Rees-zammit and Alun Wyn Jones yellows felt harsh, there was less to dispute with Biggar’s at the end of the first half – although he would have done well to roll away after tackling Faf de Klerk – and with the maul penalty try leading to a yellow card for Rhys Carre.
Maul defence
South Africa boast the best maul in the world, but even so, conceding two maul tries and a penalty try highlighted that Wales have work to do here.
Unless Wales can find a way to stop Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager marshalling that set-piece, it might be a long series.