South Africa produced an emphatic performance as they dominated Wales in an eight-try 52-16 victory at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
It was a statement win from the reigning World Cup champions ahead of the tournament, as Siya Kolisi marked his comeback with a superb 40 minutes.
Jesse Kriel and Canan Moodie both crossed twice while Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian Willemse and a penalty try added to a healthy tally.
Replacement hooker Sam Parry crossed for Wales’ only try on a disappointing day for the hosts, with the defeat a sobering experience for the home outfit.
South Africa were quickly into their stride and went ahead after just four minutes through an outstanding team try.
Patient build-up play saw them gradually make ground, and when full-back Willie le Roux went wide, he found captain Kolisi in support, whose pass sent Marx over in the corner.
Wales responded through a 35-metre Sam Costelow penalty, but there were immediate signs of set-piece authority from South Africa as their scrum initially dominated through powerful work from props Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe.
A second Costelow penalty nudged Wales ahead, yet the lead lasted barely two minutes as South Africa created another impressive try.
Lock RG Snyman was the creator, surging clear in midfield before support from scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse and Marx carved open Wales’ defence and Le Roux’s long floated pass found Moodie, who finished impressively.
Costelow completed a penalty hat-trick 15 minutes before the interval, only for South Africa to stretch away with a 12-point burst inside two minutes.
There was a huge element of fortune about them being awarded a 34th-minute penalty try when Wales wing Rio Dyer was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball out of play from behind his own line under pressure from Moodie.
Le Roux’s chip into the corner was directed towards Moodie and batted away by Dyer. Referee Andrew Brace felt that Moodie had run past the ball, but after a prolonged video review with television match official Joy Neville, Dyer was yellow carded and a penalty try awarded.
And before Wales could recover, South Africa struck again when centre Damian de Allende kicked deep into the opposition 22, home centre Mason Grady chased back, but under pressure from Springboks wing Cheslin Kolbe he threw the ball into the air behind his own line, and Kriel touched down.
From being three points adrift and very much in contention, Wales trooped off 24-9 adrift at half-time and with a mountain to climb.
And any realistic hopes of a fightback were extinguished 12 minutes after the restart when South Africa claimed a breakaway try.
It looked promising for Wales deep inside South Africa’s 22, but scrum-half Kieran Hardy saw his pass intercepted by Du Toit, and a supporting Kriel sprinted 60 metres to score, with Libbok converting.
🏴🇿🇦 SPRINGBOKS THUMP WALES IN MASSIVE WIN! #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/T6dwjFNa9V
― Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 19, 2023
Du Toit then got in on the scoring act, touching down from close range, before Moodie intercepted Wales centre Johnny Williams’ pass to claim try number seven.
Willemse then pounced before he received a yellow card for a high tackle on Dyer, then Wales claimed a consolation try nine minutes from time through Parry.
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