Quilter Nations Series
Wales (0) 0
South Africa (24) 73
Tries: Steenekamp, Hooker, Wiese, van den Berg, Mostert, Mngomezulu (2), Moodie, Esterhuizen, Nortje, Etzebeth Cons: Mngomezulu (9)
Having come into the game with no less than a dozen England and France-based players missing, the Springboks would rip apart the Welsh defence with Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scoring 28 points in an 11-try victory.
Props Gerhard Steenkamp and Wilco Louw, wings Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie, number eight Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Morne van den Berg, centre Andre Esterhuizen, and lock Ruan Nortje all going over in a powerhouse display.
Replacement Eben Etzebeth also crossed before the lock was shown a 79th-minute red card for gouging Wales flanker Alex Mann.
It would be the second-worst defeat in Wales’ history, behind the 96-13 hammering handed out by the Springboks in Pretoria in 1998.
In a year of numerous lows, Wales were ‘nilled’ for the second time in 2025 following their 43-0 Six Nations defeat to France.
South Africa had also lost players to club duty but were still able to call on a dazzling array of talent, with their bench alone boasting more Test caps than Wales’ entire matchday squad.
A predictable pattern was set from the first legal scrum that resulted in shivers down Welsh spines and a penalty on halfway.
The ball was clinically recycled for prop Steenekamp to dive over from close range with Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicking the first of his nine conversions.
South Africa’s scrum dominance led to a second score as Hooker sliced through some weak tackling and they were 14 points ahead in as many minutes.
Wiese added another from after scrum five yards out saw the wing go over in the corner, but Wales’ first-half pain was not over as the visitors claimed a fourth try in the final moments to take a commanding 28-0 lead at the break.
Esterhuizen punching a hole through the midfield to feed scrum-half Van der Berg, who would be in close proximity to go over for a fifth Test try in only six appearances.
Things would not get much better for the Welsh after the restart, with Louw profiting from another Esterhuizen burst, Feinberg-Mngomezulu then strolled through unchecked before finding Moodie, who had successfully chased a loose ball he had kicked on.
Three tries in under 10 minutes saw South Africa react by then sending on their entire eight-strong bench to showcase their superior depth.
Further woe would come the Welsh way as Esterhuizen gained his reward with the Spingboks’ eighth try, whilst Wales would be reduced to 14 with Aaron Wainwright shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu then sauntered over for his second score before locks Nortje and Etzebeth crossed as the relentless punishment would seem endless.
Springbok lock Etzebeth was then sent off for his attack on Mann to dampen a stunning South African statement display. But in a game that many never wanted, the inquest will be out to determine whether more damage than good was done on the latest day to forget for the Welsh side.
Wales XV: Murray, Mee, Roberts, Hawkins, Dyer; Edwards, Hardy, G Thomas, Lake (captain), Assiratti, Carter, R Davies, Plumtree, Mann, Wainwright.
Replacements: Coghlan, Southworth, Coleman, Ratti, Morse, Morgan-Williams, Sheedy, B Thomas.
[Lead image: Welsh Rugby Union]
