live
Share

As it happened: Boks v Wales

                SOUTH AFRICA 31-30 WALES

Send your comments/pictures on the match to MySport@sport24.co.za or 'LIKE' us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter


Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert

Follow on @herman_mostert or send suggestions to: herman.mostert@sa.24.com


Thanks for tuning in! Be sure to again follow Sport24's LIVE UPDATES during next Saturday's Test between South Africa and Scotland in Port Elizabeth (17:00 kick-off).


PICTURE

Late shoulder charge by Liam Williams on Cornal Hendricks which led to the winning penalty try... - Rugby15/Hilton Kotze


PICTURE

Willie le Roux scored another crucial try late in the game for the Boks... -
Rugby15



My word, what a match! Wales are still without a win in South Africa and will wonder how they let this one slip.

Credit must go to South African though who somehow found a way to dig deep and score two late tries.

The Welsh will no doubt complain about that last penalty try awarded to the hosts. But it was a dangerous tackle without arms and had Williams attempted a legal tackle on Hendricks, then the Bok flyer's momentum would in all likelihood have carried him over. But it was nevertheless a brave call by referee Steve Welsh it must be said!

This will be a good wake-up call for the Boks! They probably didn't deserve to win this game, but take the series 2-0.


TWEET

Wales deserved to win that. Extraordinary match in light of how ordinary some of it was. Matfield's 112th Test ends in victory - Jean Smyth


MAN-OF-THE-MATCH

Springbok No 8 Duane Vermeulen received the best player award.


FULL-TIME: South Africa 31-30 Wales


80'- After 17 phases, Wales run out of patience as Biggar attempts another long-range drop. He comfortably misses...


80'- One last-gasp chance for Wales as the hooter sounds...


79'- Wales win the ensuing kick-off and Biggar attempts a long-range drop attempt. It doesn't have the legs, and Willie le Roux catches it before kicking out.

One more lineout left...


78'- With 90 seconds left, South Africa lead for the first time in the game!

It was interesting to note that Williams was not sent to the sin-bin after that penalty try...


78'- CONVERSION by Steyn.

SA 31-30 Wales


TWEETS

Only question has to be whether Hendricks would have scored if a legitimate tackle had been made? Either way, Boks very lucky! - Front Row Grunt

All emotion aside, it was an illegal tackle yes. But am very unsure that you can then say it was a guaranteed try - Will Carling


77'- PENALTY TRY! Referee Walsh agrees with me and awards a penalty try. Welsh captain Alun Wyn Jones is not happy, but the decision stands.


77'- Replays show Wales fullback Liam Williams basically shoulder barge Hendricks out.

This could easily be a penalty try!


77'- Oh-so-close as Cornal Hendricks is tackled out just before the tryline. But referee Walsh wants to check upstairs to see if the tackle on him was legal...


76'- With the Boks back to their full complement, they put massive pressure on the Welsh scrum to win a penalty.

Steyn kicks it deep into Welsh territory. Here's a chance for South African to sneak a win!


74'- OUCH! Bok captain Victor Matfield has a dislocated finger. But he'll soldier on!


73'- The Boks have a pulse in this match!


73'- CONVERSION by Steyn.

SA 24-30 Wales


71'- TRY! After a concerted period of attack by the Boks, Willie le Roux snipes though next to the uprights.


70'- Boks attacking close to the Wales line. Can they force their way over?

It started after a great counter-attack deep inside their own territory.


TWEET

Coenie is not a great tighthead at the best of times, but in a 7 man scrum he is being introduced to his doet! Come HM, stop the farce - Front Row Grunt


67'- 15 AGAINST 15

Flip van der Merwe has returned from the sin-bin.


67'- Yet another scrum penalty for Wales. It's just inside their own territory. Too far out for a goal-kick, but they set up a lineout...


TWEET

Terrible match for the Boks. Could be just what the doctor ordered one year ahead of the World Cup. Time to clean out dead wood - Ruck&Droll


65'- Schalk Brits is now on at hooker in place of Bismarck du Plessis. Can he make the necessary impact?


65'- PENALTY slotted by Biggar.

SA 17-30 Wales


64'- A MASSIVE Welsh scrum leads to a penalty, right in front of the posts.


63'- Eight Welsh phases close to the Bok 22m area leads to an "unplayable", which means another Welsh scrum in a decent part of the field for them.


60'- The 7-man Springbok scrum is demolished by Wales... Another attacking opportunity inside South African territory for Wales.


TWEET

Agh Flip ... That's naughty meneer ... Right call, and Boks in a world of hurt - Front Row Grunt


58'- The Boks have now brought on Coenie Oosthuizen for Jannie du Plessis.


57'- YELLOW CARD

Bok lock Flip van der Merwe is sent to the sin-bin for taking out a Welshman in the air. That's a fair call in my book.


57'- Biggar kicks the PENALTY to extend Wales' lead back to 10 points.

SA 17-27 Wales


56'- Immediately, from the ensuing kick-off, the Boks concede a penalty when Matfield holds on for too long...


55'- Steyn slots the PENALTY from in front, about 30m out.

SA 17-24 Wales


53'- Another kickable penalty for South Africa. This time sanity prevails as they opt for the three points...


50'- Matfield steals a Welsh lineout ball to put the Boks back on the attack. They then win a penalty but Fourie du Preez takes a quick tap, only to see the hosts lose the ball...

They should think about taking the three points on offer. It would bring them to within one score of Wales!


49'- Jannie du Plessis penalised at the next scrum. It gives Wales the opportunity to clear...


48'- A tighthead at the ensuing scrum for the Boks, but another knock-on gives Wales another scrum.


46'- A knock-on from Francois Louw under the posts ends a promising attacking move by South Africa...


45'- An immediate penalty to the Boks from the ensuing kick-off. They opt for a lineout...


45'- Biggar slots an easy CONVERSION.

SA 14-24 Wales


45'- TRY AWARDED

The TMO and referee agree that Owens grounded the ball legally. He initially grounded it short, and then appeared to lose control, but didn't knock it on, before it eventually went over the tryline...


44'- This will be tough call. Owens appears to have lost control, but did he knock it on?


44'- TRY OR NO TRY?

Wales hooker Ken Owens is over the line, but the TMO must decide.


43'- A silly mistake by SA as Bismarck du Plessis is caught ahead of Steyn's kick. It gives Wales an opportunity to set up a lineout five metres out...


40' - Welcome back for the second half. An early chance as the Boks fail to grab a high ball. Almost a try for Wales, but some good scrambling defence by Matfield saves the day...


PICTURE

Cornal Hendricks scores for South Africa... -
Rugby15


PICTURE

Is that the old South African flag? Some old habits die hard for some fans... (Picture:
Dan Lombard - Twitter)



HALF-TIME: South Africa 14-17 Wales

Wow, what an action packed first half. Some great composure shown by the Boks to get back in it after trailing 17-0 after 23 minutes.


39'- Wales back to 14 men now as Charteris comes back on from the sin-bin.


TWEET

Pieterson provided the spark, Willie the fuel and Cornal was the flame. That's as good a try we will see all week - Rugga World


38'- It's all South Africa now as they look to take full advantage of a two-man advantage...


36'- 13-man Wales all at sea now as the ensuing kick-off is also kicked out directly into touch.


35'- CONVERSION by Steyn.

SA 14-17 Wales


34'- TRY!!! From the ensuing kick-off, the Boks run back at Wales and the move ends with Cornal Hendricks finishing near the corner. Great vision and hand skills by Willie le Roux, in particular.


33'- CONVERSION by Steyn, who is now back on after he was off for blood.

SA 7-17 Wales


32'- YELLOW CARD NO 2

Wales flyhalf Dan Biggar is also off for 10 minutes after illegally coming in to collapse the Bok driving maul.


32'- PENALTY TRY to South Africa after Wales collapse another driving maul from a lineout.


30'- Another Bok penalty as Gethin Jenkins gets a warning from referee Walsh. He nearly sends him off as well...


29'- YELLOW CARD

Wales lock Luke Charteris is sent off for 10 minutes after deliberately pulling down the Bok driving maul close to the tryline.


27'- A kickable penalty to the Boks as Wales pull down their driving maul. Matfield opts for the lineout instead though...


TWEET

It is a complete and utter horror show for the Boks out there. Wales winning every single collision! 0-17! Messy, messy, messy - Front Row Grunt


25'- Schalk Burger is also on now for the Boks, with Willem Alberts off.


23'- Willie le Roux fails to deal another high ball. Referee Walsh wants to check with the TMO if he was illegally impeded in the air.

He wasn't though, it was a fair call. Good decision.


23'- The Boks have brought on Ruan Pienaar in place of Morne Steyn.


23'- Biggar kicks the relatively easy CONVERSION.

SA 0-17 Wales


21'- TRY! Wales wing Alex Cuthbert barges over after a concerted period of attack by Wales. Poor defence by the Boks though.


21'- More pressure on the Boks are Steyn fails to handle a rolling kick through by Wales...


20'- CONVERSION by Biggar.

SA 0-10 Wales


18'- TRY! Wales centre Jamie Roberts goes over under the posts. It was started by a decent scrum, followed by a great break by wing Alex Cuthbert who broke the Springbok line before off-loading to Roberts.


17'- Willie le Roux drops a high ball just outside his own 22m area to give Wales a great chance to attack...


16'- Steyn follows up his penalty miss by kicking a ball out directly into touch. Not the best start by South Africa here today.


16'- Steyn's kick is long enough, but it's away to the left...


15'- Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones penalised for infringing in the lineout. Steyn will line up a kick from just inside the Welsh half...


14' - Wales have definitely brought their passion and intensity to this game! Boks look a bit on the back foot...


TWEET

Red tide at breakdown so far. Boks must up intensity - Rob Houwing


13'- Biggar slots the PENALTY from almost in front to put Wales into the lead.

SA 0-3 Wales


12'- An easy kickable penalty to Wales as Jannie du Plessis is penalised for not rolling away after making a tackle...


TWEET

Bob Skinstad: "Anyone who said the Boks are just going to roll over Wales, would not have done his homework" ... Aimed at studio? - Front Row Grunt


9'- After the fourth scrum of the match, the Boks finally get the upper hand and win a penalty. Good work by The Beast, who has Samson Lee in trouble!


7'- The Boks show some enterprise as they attempt to run the ball from their own 22m area. A good break from Habana leads to nothing when Pietersen knocks on badly just before the halfway line...


4'- Biggar misses. The Boks are off the hook!


3'- An early kickable penalty to Wales as the Boks are caught holding on too long.

Dan Biggar to line up a kick from close to the touchline...


2'- A strong first scrum from Wales is followed up by a superb break from scrumhalf Mike Phillips which puts them into Bok territory...


1'- A good start by the Boks as they attack close to the Welsh 22m area, but a knock-on from Duane Vermeulen brings relief for Wales.


TWEET

Wow that pitch is looking superb! - Irene Nell


15:00 - Morne Steyn gets the game started...


15:00 - Steve Walsh, a former Kiwi-turned-Aussie, is today's referee...


14:58 - Karlien van Jaarsveld, wife of former Bok flyhalf Derick Hougaard, sings the SA national anthem.


14:56 - There's not a great crowd in at the Mbombela Stadium. There have been reports of traffic difficulties getting to the ground...


14:56 - All set now for the national anthems...


14:55 - A huge cheer for Matfield as he leads out his team. He becomes the most capped Springbok today with 112 Test caps.


CONDITIONS:

Sunshine! Perfect conditions for running rugby today!


14:54 - Lock Alun Wyn Jones leads out his Welsh team...


Former Springbok loose forward AJ Venter has backed the Boks to win by 20 points today, while former Bok wing Ashwin Willemse was even more bold. He predicted a 49-18 win to South Africa!


TWEET

Derick Hougaard mystery solved. He's commentating for Welsh radio and his wife (Karlien van Jaarsveld) is currently performing and also singing the national anthem - Jean Smyth


PICTURE:

Nelspruit is turning it on. A chopper hovers low over the stadium with "Go Bokke" written on the underside - EWN Sport



PICTURE: VICTOR MATFIELD'S SPRINGBOK TEST CAREER - 2001-2014

Victor Matfield today becomes the most capped Springbok in history. Here are his career stats - Jean Smyth



JAKE: EASY WIN FOR BOKS

Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White says the Boks will easily win today's Test.

"Wales have played against Southern Hemisphere teams 25 times in the last while and only won once. They have never beaten South Africa in South Africa."

I tend to agree with White's opinion...


PICTURE

The current Springbok squad


ARE YOU AT THE GAME?

If so, then send us your pictures and we'll hit the publish button!

Send to: mysport@sport24.co.za


OFFICIALS

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Francesco Pastrana (Argentina)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)


RECENT RESULTS

2014: South Africa won 38-16, Durban
2013: South Africa won 24-15, Cardiff
2011: South Africa won 17-16, Wellington
2010: South Africa won 29-25, Cardiff
2010: South Africa won 34-31, Cardiff
2008: South Africa won 20-15, Cardiff
2008: South Africa won 37-21, Pretoria
2008: South Africa won 43-17, Bloemfontein
2007: South Africa won 34-12, Cardiff
2005: South Africa won 33-16, Cardiff


TEAMS:

Springboks

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 JP Pietersen, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Lodewyk de Jager, 20 Schalk Burger, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Wynand Olivier, 23 Lwazi Mvovo

Wales:

15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Josh Turnbull, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins

Substitutes: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 James Hook, 23 Matthew Morgan


Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's match between the Springboks and Wales from the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit!


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1473 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2252 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE