Jesse Kriel's double inspires South Africa to emphatic victory against Wales

06/22/2024 11:36 AM

• South Africa 41-13 Wales
• Mapimpi and Mbonambi add tries at Twickenham

During his side's run to the 2019 World Cup title, Rassie Erasmus emphasised the physical threat that Wales possessed. "They're not softies," he said, suggesting there is some inherent toughness found in the valleys and old coal-mining towns. This might be an unfamiliar Welsh side, one with a forward pack that has as much combined Test experience as Eben Etzebeth, but they demonstrated the virtues that Erasmus had lauded five years ago.

Wales lost this match by a distance, conceding five tries and scoring just one. But their green players can be proud of their performance against a team that included 15 members of the squad that triumphed in France last year. The double world champions were disjointed for large parts of the contest, and were curtailed by a disappointing debut by Jordan Hendrikse at fly-half, but their task was made difficult by the inexperienced Welsh who challenged at the lineout, battled contestable kicks and fronted up at the point of contact.