It was never going to be a contest, but the Springboks' dominance was never more apparent as they scored seven tries to beat a brave Wales 45-12 in their final international of the year in Cardiff on Saturday night.
But given that Wales fell to their 12th straight loss this season, and that coach Warren Gatland is likely to face the chop, there was more than a tinge of disappointment that the Boks couldn’t hammer their way home to post an even bigger scoreline in a very one-sided test.
🏆💚💛#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/2z1aukuszq
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 23, 2024
It is hard to find fault when you lead from start to finish and win by more than 30 points in an international, but while the Boks ended their November tour unbeaten and at number one in the world, and their transition in using 50 players during the season was an undoubted success, there are still a number of areas that they can work on to be a better side.
That may sound strange against the backdrop of being double World Cup champions, but Rassie Erasmus’s side has found ways to win on this tour, despite some sloppy play.
FAR FROM CLINICAL
Even against Wales, a side they dominated so easily during the game, the Boks were far from clinical.
It would be an understatement to say the Boks left more than a half dozen tries on the table, and could have won by 30 points more if they were a bit more on target.
But that is sometimes the way rugby goes when you are dominant.
After scoring three quick tries early in the first half, the Boks were perhaps seduced by their own dominance, and it was easy to underestimate the brave performance put on by the Welsh.
Hopelessly outgunned they may have been, there was plenty of pride left in the Welsh performance and it showed throughout as they played with their backs to the wall.
The Welsh may have been well beaten in the ring, but they certainly got a few shots of their own in a game they were never destined to win.
The Boks may have been incredibly dominant in the season, losing only twice, but continuity and precision suffered in the process as a result of the chopping and changing of starting line-ups.
That may be negligible in the long-term goal for the Boks as they look for a three-peat in Australia in 2027, but on a night in Cardiff where they could have easily put 70 on the home side, it was more than apparent they are far from the finished article.
GOOD REMINDER OF 2017
Still, while that may be the overriding thought, the Welsh's form is a good reminder that the Boks were in a similar position in 2017 before Erasmus’s transformation of the side, so this golden era should be enjoyed.
But at the same time it is worth nothing that the only game where the Boks looked like hitting their straps was against Argentina in Nelspruit earlier this year.
As for Cardiff, it was always going to be a victory and the only question was by how much they would win.
And when Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth scored in the first 12 minutes, there was a lot of hope that this big scoreline would happen and the Boks would put down a massive marker on a wounded Welsh side.
But that was not to be. Bok sides have traditionally struggled to plant the knockout blow and after the shock of Australia putting 50 on Wales last week, the whole week in Cardiff was focused on damage control for the home side.
That was aided by the sloppiness of the Boks at times, as they left several tries on the table in a game where they revelled in too much ball and very little opposition.
LAKE AND MORGAN WALES’ BEST
Wales’ best players were their captain Dewi Lake and flanker Jac Morgan, while Taine Plumtree and James Botham all put in performances worthy of the jersey.
But this was a day that the Boks were going to dominate, and it wasn’t long into the game before they made their presence known.
It was five minutes in when Jesse Kriel found outside space to put Cheslin Kolbe away, and when he was stopped it was a flying Mostert who ran the perfect line to dissect the defence for the opening try.
"Sous" trundles in for the first try ⚡#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/AflxZ0uzTn
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 23, 2024
The second try came after an exceptional counter-ruck, this time turning the ball over for it to be sent to Etzebeth, who sent Arendse on a run, then took the inside pass at the right time to add his name to the scoresheet.
Test number 131, try number 7 for our most-capped Bok 💪#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/pBsL6oDpd2
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 23, 2024
Arendse showed his incredible sidestep as the Boks finished a lineout move from the 10 metre line, sending it wide to the winger, who simply employed his superpower, stepping inside the defence to score the third try in the 18th minute.
Arendse goes over for the third try of the Test 🥳#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/uggVfLZhKN
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 23, 2024
Elrigh Louw was the fourth try in the first half, taking the ball after Jasper Wiese was stopped and grinding his way over the line.
But while they had dominance, the Boks left three tries on the table that half.
First when Jordan Hendrikse knocked on a chip kick over the defence from his brother Jaden, although the jury is still out whether he actually knocked it on.
Then Siya Kolisi was held up over the line and in a try that was scored, it was negated because a replay showed Jaden knocked the ball on at the final ruck before the try.
Wales, meanwhile, clung to everything they could get. And a turnover penalty from Lake late in the first half gave them hope.
It launched a series of attacks that eventually saw Dyer go over on the halftime whistle, getting them on the board and giving an entire nation hope.
ARENDSE DUMMY
The Boks were increasingly sloppy early in the second half, and soaked up more pressure than they would like, taking a full 13 minutes before Arendse threw the most audacious of dummies to flummox the defence and then send Aphelele Fassi away in the corner for their fifth try.
The "Weekend Special" finishes in the corner 🥳#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/AcE4EWpVGP
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 23, 2024
The Boks stepped it up to give Gerhard Steenekamp his first try in a Bok jersey, before some great interplay saw Jordan Hendrikse go over for the seventh try.
James Botham grabbed one back late in the game to give the home side some respect, but this was a night where the Boks were always dominant, and always the story that would dominate.
Scorers
South Africa - tries: Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Elrigh Louw, Aphelele Fassi, Gerhard Steenekamp, Jordan Hendrikse.
Wales - try: Rio Dyer, James Botham. Conversion: Freddie Thomas.