RECALLED CAPTAIN SIYA Kolisi was among the try scorers as South Africa outmuscled Wales to win the third Test 30-14 in Cape Town on Saturday and seal a 2-1 series victory.
All three Springbok tries stemmed from physical strength and after Wales came within three points early in the second half, the home team pulled away for an ultimately convincing triumph.
Handre Pollard, who scored 20 points including three conversions and three penalties, and Bongi Mbonambi were the other try scorers for South Africa, who led 17-8 at half-time.
Despite the series loss, gutsy Wales will leave the republic with a greatly enhanced reputation after putting behind them a humiliating home loss to Italy in the Six Nations in March.
Success for South Africa halted a run of series victories by northern hemisphere teams with France winning in Japan last weekend, and Ireland in New Zealand and England in Australia earlier on Saturday.
Wales suffered a severe blow just before the kick-off when No. 8 Taulupe Faletau was injured while warming up and had to be replaced by Josh Navidi with Taine Basham promoted to the bench.
The biggest pre-match cheers were reserved for Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth, who ran onto the field ahead of his teammates in recognition of him winning his 100th cap.
South Africa started superbly, dominating possession as they camped in the Wales half and fly-half Handre Pollard slotted a fifth-minute penalty from close range to open the scoring.
Intense pressure from the home team close to the tourists’ tryline followed and they stretched the lead to 10 points by the 16th minute as Pollard dived over close to the posts and converted his try.
Almost immediately, veteran Alun Wyn Jones extended his world record number of caps for Wales to 153 when he come on for injured flanker Dan Lydiate.
Wales got back into the match at the end of the first quarter when patient handling culminated in flanker Tommy Reffell taking a pass from winger Josh Adams and scoring an unconverted try.
Star Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe then had to leave the field injured with veteran Willie le Roux coming on and forcing a backline reshuffle that included full-back Damian de Allende moving to centre.
English referee Matthew Carley warned Wales several times to cut out infringements that led to eight penalties being awarded against them by the 25th minute.
South Africa got a second try three minutes before half-time as hooker Bongi Mbonambi celebrated his 50th cap by scoring a pushover try off a lineout and Pollard converted for a 17-8 half-time advantage.
Two successful Biggar penalties reduced the gap to three points before Kolisi, one of 10 changes to the team beaten in the second Test last weekend, barged over for a third Springboks try.
Pollard converted and slotted two late penalties to boost morale ahead of two home Rugby Championship matches against arch rivals New Zealand next month.
McCloskey, Hanrahan and McGrath. Particularly pleased to see those three names in the line-up.
Depth of Irish squad is something to behold. Really interesting group of players – possibly even a few bolters for the RWC squad in there? Reid, Ruddock, McCloskey perhaps? Surprised to see Duncan Casey not selected though – he’s been in very good form of late. Similarly Collie O’Shea or Garry Ringrose, just to see how they’d fare?
Gary Ringrose will be playing at the under 20 World Cup. Ronan O Mahoney deserved a place on this squad, along with Duncan casey. Don’t see the point in bringing billy holland, who has had a really good season but he’s in his 30s using he?
So, I guess it’s something like:
1s: Cronin, Buckley, Warwick
2s: Herring, Heffernan
3s: Archer, Bealham
locks: Holland, Marshall, Stevenson
back-row: Ruddock, Masterson, McKeon, Leavy, Taggart
9s: Cooney, McGrath
10s: Hanrahan, Scannell
centres: McCloskey, Reid, Griffin
back three: Healy, Conway, O’Halloran, Nelson, Kelleher
I wonder why John Ryan, Duncan Casey, Tadhg Furlong, Jack O’Donoghue, Jack Conan and Ronan O’Mahony weren’t selected
Can only assume the Furlong and Casey are in the running to be part of the main training squad. O’Mahony and Conan exclusion seems daft considering how far they have come on this season and while I know O Donoghue is only well started everything he does screams future international….
No Duncan Casey?
Archer and Holland???? Holland is too old and Archer can’t scrummage.
If there was a better player than Holland available then he wouldn’t be going.
Could have picked a much stronger squad imo. From a Munster perspective, I would much rather see JOD, Casey and ROM in there than Holland and Archer. Conan should be there too as well as Furlong. Still, it’s good to see talent like McCloskey, McGrath and JJ being recognised.
Delighted to see lots of young talents being given the chance to improve and put their hands up for the future.Griffen has being doing well at Irish and playing abroad should not be punished. As a Connacht fan after Ireland I am so pleased Matt Healy is being given a chance, he has a great kick and chase game and seems to be able to get through the eye off the needle a lot. And Denis Buckely is just unbelievable, solid at scrummage and so tenacious at turn over ball, remember the game in Thomond with was it 7 turn overs ? Quinlan couldn’t stop talking him. Best of luck too all involved maybe even a few RWC wild cards in there!!
Great to see Kelleher getting recognition for a great season