Anscombe’s boot shocks the Boks as wonderful Wales make history
DAN BIGGAR hailed Wales’ ‘huge achievement’ after his team of historymakers stunned world champions South Africa in Bloemfontein.
It was Wales’ first win against the Springboks on South African soil, ending 58 years of hurt and arriving at the
12th attempt.
After suffering an agonising three-point defeat in last weekend’s series opener, Wayne Pivac’s team made no mistake at the second time of asking and set up a Cape Town decider on Saturday.
Josh Adams’ 78th-minute try was converted from the touchline by his fellow replacement Gareth Anscombe — who went on for Biggar early in the second half — as Wales levelled the series. ‘We have earned the right to enjoy this win because it is a huge achievement,’ said Welsh captain Biggar.
‘There have been some very good Wales teams to have come here and been sent packing. We are a really tight-knit group, and everyone deserves a pat on the back.
‘I mentioned before the game in my speech (to the players) that it was an easy job to be captain of this team because we have got a great group of guys who will roll their sleeves up and work their socks off.’
On Anscombe’s match-winning strike, Biggar added: ‘It was absolute character from Gareth. I thought he was excellent when he went on, and from the minute it left his boot it looked good. It showed huge bottle from him and a huge effort.
‘I am really pleased for Gareth because he has had a difficult couple of years with injury. I am really proud of him, and Sam Wainwright, on debut against a front row full of World Cup winners, was exceptional.’
Biggar (shoulder) and wing Alex Cuthbert (arm) both departed the action early as Wales dug deep to claim an unforgettable win. ‘I am a bit sore, so we will see how it pulls up tomorrow, but the last two minutes made it a little bit better,’ said Biggar.
‘I will be desperate to be involved next Saturday. Hopefully, it is just a bang and nothing more.’
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber’s decision to make 14 changes backfired — he rested World Cup winners like Siya
Kolisi, Faf de Klerk and Cheslin Kolbe — as Wales triumphed, with Biggar and Anscombe also kicking penalties and Handre Pollard booting four penalties for South Africa.
Just over three months after losing at home to Italy, Wales stunned the world champions, with head coach Pivac masterminding a landmark triumph.
Pivac, though, deflected praise following one of the great Wales coaching feats in any sport.
‘It is not about individuals, and I certainly don’t feel as though I have achieved anything more than anyone else in the group,’ he said.
‘We really wanted to create the history last week, and to not be able to do that the way it was, felt really frustrating. We took that feeling of last week into this week — and I am very happy.
‘It will be an enjoyable week because there is something on the game and, in the past, I don’t think there has been. There is a lot to look forward to.’
SCORERS; South Africa — Pens: Pollard (4).
Wales — Try: Adams. Con: Anscombe. Pens: Biggar, Anscombe.