Wales show spirit but Springboks just have too much in reserve

THE Mexican Wave, always an indication of the importance and intensity of the occasion, started as early as the 50th minute as the crowd realised that the first winning of the Qatar Airways Cup was of no real relevance.

- ROGER PANTING

Wales fought hard but anyone with any remote understanding of the game would have realised it was only a matter of time before their opponents upped their game to end up convincing winners and so it proved.

It was a game that very few felt should take place as it was added as a financial benefit with South Africa taking advantage of a large number of their countrymen in London and the Welsh Rugby Union always on the lookout for options to swell their coffers.

It was officially marked down as a home game for South Africa as Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium was unavailable due to it being sacrificed for performances by female icons, Taylor Swift and Pink.

Being outside the international window, Wales were unable to select the likes of their Six Nations captain, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell and Nick Tompkins while their opponents were without any Bulls, who were competing in the URC final and also huge stars in Cheslin Kolbe, Steven Kitshoff and Lukanyo Am.

Despite these absentees, South Africa tried to play an expansive game and eventually it paid dividends by scoring some well-created tries but overall it was a stuttering effort from them not aided by frenetic debutant, Jordan Hendrikse.

Matters improved when Sacha Freiberg- Mngomezulu was introduced in his place to ensure that the sparkling play of both wings and the evergreen Faf de Klerk was not unrewarded.

Wales offered little apart from spirit with Sam Costelow content to launch the ball crossfield at every opportunity and it came as no surprise that their only try came from a close-range effort from hard-working skipper, Dewi Lake.