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International Men's Rugby
2025
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RSA vs WAL
International Men's Rugby
Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), London
South Africa
vs
Wales
41
FT
13
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 41 - 13
It's ultimately a big win for the Springboks at Twickenham, and an excellent start to their season despite a couple of hiccups along the way today. Wales are left to deal with major disappointment yet again after falling well short in this clash. The Boks head back home now for their series against Ireland next month, while Wales travel to Australia to take on the Wallabies.
There were some excellent moments from Wales, with great crossfield kicks and chips ahead that they used to put South Africa under pressure through their chases. Williams in particular was stunning under the high ball, chasing and reclaiming quite a few of the kicks. Unfortunately they weren't able to link things up well enough to actually convert those opportunities into points on the board.
Wales found themselves under pressure at scrum time, with the notorious Springbok pack forcing them up, down, and around all over the park. They managed to steal a Bok lineout, but that was because Marx threw the ball straight over the outstretched fingers of his jumper rather than as a result of pressure from Wales. The Boks picked off some of the Welsh ball in the air as well, and were excellent on maul defence, preventing the drive from going anywhere on numerous occasions and thwarting one attempted try off the maul from in the corner.
It wasn't all smooth sailing for the Boks either though, despite the final score. Their lineouts were a bit wonky early on, there was a restart that went out on the full, a couple of scrums calls against them in the form of two free kicks and a handful of penalties where they had the upper hand on the shove, but not legally. A forward pass here and there, a few breakdown penalties as they infringed while trying to force turnover ball, and a yellow card for a foot to the shoulder of Plumtree all slowed down their momentum at times, with the yellow card in particular proving costly as Wales ran in their only try just second after Fassi was sent to the bin, allowing them to ultimately narrow the gap to just a single point before the break.
It looked like the momentum had swung in Wales' favour shortly before the break, but they weren't able to continue that in the second half even for a brief period. The Boks came back out of the gate absolutely firing, scoring their first second half try less than two minutes in. They added another two after that as well, along with two penalties from Hendrikse and Feinberg-Mngomezulu respectively, while Wales were unable to put any more points on their end of the board in the second 40.
80+2'
De Allende taps and goes! He offloads as well as he's caught in contact. Wide to the right wing where Feinberg-Mngomezulu is stopped just outside the 22. Recycled back on the inside where Du Toit picks and goes, but he accidentally barges into one of his teammates for an accidental offside, and that'll be the game!
80+1'
Free kick South Africa this time!
80'
Wales gather inside their own half and send Wainwright barging back up into contact. Wide through the hands to the right wing where a loose pass is knocked on as James can't take the ball cleanly.
79'
Lineout set up in the left corner with a monster kick. Maul formed, but it's again well defended and going nowhere. Infield ball where they drive up to the 5 with a couple of phases, but are still making no ground... Knocked by South Africa in the tackle. Advantage called, but just a scrum advantage. Another couple of phases is still going nowhere... Chipped ahead for Watkin to chase, but it's come loose off Kriel in the aerial contest and bounces dead. Advantage was over, so a goal-line drop-out is the call.