Defence was the order of the day in the last five minutes at the Millenium Stadium as South Africa held on to beat Wales 29-25 on Saturday.
Article from Planet Rugby.
Needing a try to snatch victory, Wales laid siege to the South African line in the closing stages, going through some 15 phases of possession in injury-time, but some superb defence kept them at bay as the Springboks made it two wins from two games on European soil.
As hard as they tried, Wales were left to rue yet another defeat at the hands of their southern hemisphere visitors who at one stage looked dead and buried before staging a spirited fightback.
Up 17-3 in the first half, the Welsh looked a sure bet at ending their eleven-match losing drought over Tri-Nations opposition. But the boot of Morne Steyn (19 points) coupled with tries to debutant Willem Alberts and captain Victor Matfield in the second half, set up a thrilling finish that ultimately ended in heart-break for Wales.
In a game of two halves, Wales were worthy 17-9 leaders at half-time after getting the better of the sluggish world champions who looked a far cry from the team that dismantled the Irish only a week ago and were somewhat fortunate to head in just eight points down at the interval.
It got better for South Africa after the break, with their two quick-fire tries in the space of three minutes proving to be the deciding factor in this nail-biter of a Test.
The Boks got the start they were looking for, after Wales were penalised for entering the ruck from an offsides position and Morne Steyn’s boot did the rest – three points to South Africa after just two minutes played.
However, that would be the last we would see of the visitors for the first quarter of the match as Wales hit back in emphatic fashion with two converted tries during a dominant 20 minute spell.
The first was just reward for the Welsh after turning down three points for a line-out eight meters out from South Africa’s line. Alun-Wyn Jones did the business in the air, the ball went through the backs, Tom Shanklin seemed to obstruct a Bok tackler and George North went under the posts for a try on debut.
Stephen Jones added the extras from bang in front, and the shell-shocked Springboks strolled back for the restart. Ten minutes later, South Africa resumed their place under the posts to watch another Jones conversion sail between the uprights after James Hook got himself on the scoresheet.
Morne Steyn responded by landing his second penalty, with Andy Powell somewhat harshly penalised for going off his feet at a tackle.
But with Wales on the front foot and dominating both territory and possession, an increasingly ragged Springbok outfit paid for their indiscipline. Although Hook saw a penalty attempt from inside his own half drift just wide, Jones made no mistake from closer range after Deon Stegmann was pinged for an infringement at a ruck.
But it was the South Africans who finished the half the stronger as Wales were forced to desperately defend their line. The Springboks should have gone over for a try but, having wasted a clear chance to score out wide, they had to settle for a third penalty from Steyn to make the half-time score 17-9.
That lead was quickly extended to 20-9 after the restart when Bismarck du Plessis was called for trying to play the ball while on the floor, allowing Jones to kick his second penalty.
But from a position of apparent power, Wales suddenly found themselves on the back foot as the South Africans finally roused themselves to demonstrate just why they are the current world champs.
Bryne was penalised for not rolling away allowing Steyn to kick his fourth penalty and the Springboks then came alive with their two tries in three minutes.
After sustained pressure, the Welsh line was finally breached when substitute Alberts crashed over from close range out wide – Steyn adding a fine conversion to bring the visitors back within one at 20-19.
They then hit the front as captain Matfield went over to mark his record-breaking 103rd cap. Having worked the ball from right to left, the Wales defence was left horribly exposed when the South Africans quickly moved the ball back the other way and Matfield, up in the line, careered over despite the attention of two would-be tacklers – Steyn added the extras.
A frantic five-minute period was capped by North who, alone in oceans of space on the right wing, was spotted by Stephen Jones, the young winger collecting an astute cross-field kick from his fly-half to drop over the line for his second try.
But Jones was unable to add the conversion and South Africa’s slender lead was stretched to four points with 16 minutes remaining when Wales’ backs were caught offside at a maul handing Steyn a simple penalty chance in front of posts.
Steyn increased his side’s lead, but Wales finished the match camped just metres from South Africa’s tryline, rumbling on through their forwards for repeated phases before the Springboks finally – and with a huge sigh of relief – shut up shop.
Man of the match: The 18-year-old giant Wales wing George North, who has already been dubbed the Welsh Jonah Lomu, matched his billing with a barnstorming display.
Moment of the match: Wales’ last-gasp effort at the end – anyone watching will no doubt have shorter nails and less hair for it.
Villain of the match: No cards. But perhaps Wales were their own worst enemies for letting the Boks back in the match in what could have been a memorable Welsh victory.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: North 2, Hook
Cons: S Jones 2
Pens: S Jones 2
For South Africa:
Tries: Alberts, Matfield
Cons: M Steyn 2
Pens: M Steyn 5
My Springbok Player Ratings:
The rating in brackets is made by SA rugby site
15: Gio Aplon – 8 (7.5)
14: Bjorn Basson – 6 (6.5)
13: Frans Steyn – 5 (6)
12: Jean de Villiers – 5 (5)
11: Bryan Habana – 4 (4)
10: Morne Steyn – 7 (7)
9: Ruan Pienaar – 5 (4)
8: Pierre Spies – 8 (8.5)
7: Juan Smith – 7 (6.5)
6: Deon Stegmann – 5 (4)
5: Victor Matfield – 8 (7.5)
4: Bakkies Botha – 7 (7)
3: Jannie du Plessis – 6 (6)
2: Bismarck du Plessis – 8 (7)
1: Tendai Mtawarira – 8 (8)
Replacements:
16: Chiliboy Ralepelle
Not enough time to be rated.
17: CJ van der Linde
Not enough time to be rated.
18: Flip van der Merwe – 7 (7) (59 min)
19: Willem Alberts – 8 (8) (46 min)
20: Francois Hougaard – 7 (6.5) (59 min)
21: Zane Kirchner
Not enough time to be rated.
22: Pat Lambie – 6 (6.5) (64 min)
Ons het ook maar net net gewen! Kan nie verstaan hoe Snorre vir Stegman EN Bismark kan afhaal nie!! Niemand oor om bal te steel of stadige te maak nie! Nie dat Stegmann eintlik iets gedoen het nie…. So goed soos Ruaan laas naweek was, so sleg was hy gister! Sal hom nog minder as vir Habana gegee het!! Ons gameplan bly ook game na game dieselfde. Hoekom probeer ons senters nie hul oponenete klop of spasie skep vir ons vleuels nie? Aplon het gister weereens gewys dat hy pond vir pond die beste verdediger in die span is! Victor speel ook sy beste rugby van die jaar, en Bakkies het ook baie beter gelyk al teen die Iere.
Is ek al wat dink Steve Walsh het ‘n patetiese game geblaas?
KingPaul wrote:
Jy het eintlik self geantwoord, dis nie ons game plan nie, sad want tog het ons ook goeie agter spelers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0VhC4uJO0I
Uuum, is dit net ek, of sukkel ons nie so erg onder Victor se leierskap nie? Hoekom maak hulle nie vir hom volgnde jaar se WB kaptain nie, en begin dan met Bismarck?
@ Greenpoint-Gunner:
Die vraag gaan al harder gevra word as ons nog een en nog een wen.
Kyk, meeste van die ouens respekteer hom reeds as leier, en as ons aanhou wen, hoekom nie?
Terloops, wie sal geld daarop sit dat Habana volgende week begin? Hy was weereens uit posisie toe die derde drie gedruk is.
Daar is twee dinge in sy guns, transformasie en legendes :GRIN:
I see Basson has been ruled out of the rest of the end of year tour.
“There wasn’t anything remarkable about the rugby they played and they may even have been lucky, but the Springboks showed in coming from behind to win 29-25 against a fired-up Wales at the Millennium Stadium that they do have the indefinable championship qualities that can yet win them the World Cup”
I agree with Gavin Rich above
Hi superBul, have your ears been burning, your wildlife photos have been talked aout on Voldy today!
How are the little cheethas doing now btw?
Just popped by to ask you to explain to GBS that Welsh does NOT have a c in it…..See the poll above 😆 Would hate to offend a ‘Taffy’ !!
@ Blue Bird:
Do they like the photos? I broke my camera last Sunday in the Kruger National Park. No camera now. I took pictures of the cheetahs in the week before the break, will post them later. Thanks for telling me.
It might be me with the “c” though , i will check and fix it.
@ Blue Bird:
Just checked , aha this time it is the Boss.
More of the Rich article
Forget for a moment the weaknesses that there still are in several aspects of the Boks’ game – weaknesses that were cruelly exposed in the first half and which a team with a better temperament than Wales might have punished far more mercilessly.
Think rather of the way the Boks refused to panic when they were being pounded, the way they absorbed the pressure when Wales were on top, and then think of the commitment and discipline they showed in defending their line at the end of a pulsating game.
Those were the ingredients that enabled them to escape with a win that on the balance of the game they probably shouldn’t have, a win that must have left Wales, after two successive close defeats on their home ground to Bok teams ravaged by injury, wondering how they are ever going to beat their big pool opponents at next year’s World Cup in New Zealand.
Matfield rightly fingered accuracy, which was the product of greater patience, as the key ingredient in the fightback. There was a need for the Boks to be desperate, but the experience of Matfield prevented them from being over-frenetic about it, as Western Province were two weeks ago when they faced a catch-up situation in the Currie Cup final.
“I am extremely proud of the way the guys pulled together and showed pride in the jersey in getting us over the line. Today we showed we play for each other and we play for the jersey,” said Matfield.
2 k@k ingooie deur Chilliboy het ons byna die toets gekos. So, ons kan hom rate : 1/10. Hy verdien die 1 deurdat hy nie homself beseer het deur oppie veld te draf nie…
Wie was toe die man of the match gewees? Het dit gemis. Myne sou definitief Matfield gewees het. Die ou was oral en sy leierskap was puik.
ek het gister redelik woes te kere gegaan en wil net graag vir almal onverskoning vra die gevloek was bietjie erg gewees en heeltemal onnodig.
wat ons voorry betref dink ek dat beast bismark en jannie besig is om baie goed te ontwikkel ek dink dat hulle n wereld klas kombinasie kan word,bakkies en vic was soos altyd goed en juan weet nie wat n slegte game is nie spies begin weer speel soos ons weet hy kan en alberts was kook water
Ons voorspelers lyk deesdae nie sleg nie. Is dit omdat hulle vars van hul goeie provinsiale coaches kom of het Gary Gold raad gevra en tog bygekom?
Dick Muir het ons agterlyn verwoes, opgedonner en nog meer maar sal maar nie lelike woorde gebruik nie.
Wie stel hul in Dick Muir se plek aan?
Interesting to see this article has North as man of match, I also thought he had done really well and at such a young age, yet the BBC gave man of match to Pierre Spies who had a good game, starting to silence his critics. BUT I thought things really started to get going again when Alberts came on, not seen many of his games and was real impressed with his contribution, thought Smith has fairly quiet initially but after Alberts came on it seemed to ignite something and Smith’s play improved loads.
@ Rugbyprof:
Ek het nog nie gehoor dat hy die eerbare ding gaan doen en fark off nie.
@ Bullscot:
This award was given by the article writer. The one you heard over the stadium intercom is the official MOM.
@ Bullscot:
Someone mentioned that when Stegman and Bissy was taken of they had a stream of balls, no fetcher left or someone to slow their ball. We can look at it any way we want , i believe in combinations and the fact is this run on pack is working like a well oiled machine.
as agtrerlyn afrigter dink ek hulle kan gerus maar weer vir gysie pienaar nader roep hy het jarre se ondervinding en kon nog altyd die beste uit n agterlyn kry of dalk iemand soos danie gerber net asb iemand wat glo in spesialis spelers in hulle posiesies
@ smallies72:
middag smallies
Jis jong dit is erg ontstellend as jy die SA spelers sien wat geen zip het nie , daar was manne gister wat sirkels om my sal hardloop(praat nou van my hey day 😆 )
@ superbul ja jong die bokke het die north laaity vreeslik goed laat lyk daai eeste drie was ou fransie se skuld hy het nie eers n poging aangewend om te tackle nie
@ smallies72:
Jy weet ek is nie n Fransie fan nie . Ek weet nie wat sy waarde meer was Saterdag nie. Hy is sterk ja , maar sterker ouens as hy word deesdae terug geduik. Het hy n step, het hy skerp verassende moves? Ek voel sterk dat Hennie Daniller meer as hy kan doen.
@superbul hennie danniller is rocksteady onder die uppie sy posisionele spel onverbeterlik en hy is n dodelike teenaanvaller hy is ook bedrieglik vinnig, het die jaar nie een keer gesien dat hy gekllop is nie,ek glo dat snorre na n spesialis buite senter moees gekyk het toe mossie seer gekry het bv eberson uys of dalk sefs stefan al drie sou vir north geplant het daar.selfs doppies kon n goeie roep gewees het
Warren Gatland points out something here that we so conveniently forgets sometimes, well some of us, like the Aussie team.
“We’re just incredibly disappointed because it was a great chance and I thought we played some simply fantastic rugby. They aren’t the world champions for nothing and they came at us.
“I’m proud of the performance, proud of the way we played and just absolutely gutted with the final result.
“You look at Morne Steyn and he kicks his conversion from the sideline and Stephen Jones just misses his. If one or two of those go your way then you’re not trying to score a try at the end – you’re kicking for the posts to win the game.”
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