South Africa v Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as Damian Willemse kicks Springboks to last-gasp win
Follow reaction from the first Test of Wales’ summer tour as the Springboks break Welsh hearts
Full back Damian Willemse kicked a pressure penalty after the hooter to secure South Africa rugby a 32-29 victory over ill-disciplined Wales rugby in a see-saw test at a raucous Loftus Versfeld.
Louis Rees-Zammit crossed twice in the first half to put Wales in control and Dewi Lake also crossed to seemingly snatch a draw late on for the tourists, who came agonisingly close to their first-ever victory on South African soil.
They ran the world champions so close but paid the price for their cynical play in their own 22 as they lost four players to yellow cards and conceded a penalty try.
The Springboks might have won by a greater margin but for their own lacklustre play as their tactical kicking was abysmal and decision-making in key phases of play unusually poor. Hookers Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx, and wing Cheslin Kolbe, crossed for tries for the home side. The second of three tests will be played in Bloemfontein next Saturday with Wales still in search of a first win in South Africa after 11 attempts.
Follow all the reaction below with our live blog:
Australia 3-6 England, 39 minutes
Neither side has quite clicked yet. Owen Farrell has the option of either Freddie Steward on the short ball or Danny Care out the back, and perhaps chooses the wrong one as Care is given a bit of a tonking by Samu Kerevi after trying to catch Farrell’s floated pull-back.
Scrappy stuff, this.
Australia 3-6 England, 38 minutes
Darcy Swain is still shaking his heads as he re-emerges from the dressing rooms and takes his seat next to a pensive Quade Cooper.
Australia knock on in midfield. Joe Cokanasiga, who played a bit of six at age-group level, is providing an extra body to the English scrum with Courtney Lawes in the row; Andrew Kellaway, who I doubt has too much experience at flanker, is doing the same for Australia.
Australia 3-6 England, 36 minutes
Just so, so foolish from both players, but particularly Swain, whose headbutt wasn’t particularly well executed, either. As a reminder to any Australian readers, unlike in Super Rugby Pacific, red means red - there’s no 20-minute replacement or anything of that sort.
England fumble their lines at the lineout.
RED CARD! DARCY SWAIN IS SENT OFF! Australia 3-6 England, 34 minutes
Yellow for Hill, red for Swain!! The replays aren’t good for Swain, showing a clear directing of his head into the chin of Hill, and that leaves James Doleman reaching to opposite pockets. Hill will sit down for ten minutes, Swain for the remainder of this game - and possibly the series.
Australia 3-6 England, 34 minutes
Hmm, this could be very, very interesting. It is Hill initially sparking it, unneccessarily pulling at Swain’s hair, but then there is a suspicion of a headbutt from the Australian lock.
This could be two cards.
Australia 3-6 England, 33 minutes
To the posts points Hooper in a bid for scoreboard parity.
Before Noah Lolesio kicks, a check with the TMO on some grappling between Darcy Swain and Jonny Hill. Both second rows appear to be pulling each other by the hair.
Australia 3-6 England, 32 minutes
England kick away and now for the first time Australia really begin to fizz. Andrew Kellaway shimmies free of a tackle and then off goes Angus Bell, showing his turn of speed and deftly then offloading to Rob Valetini as Freddie Steward makes a strong last-ditch tackle.
Valetini is stopped by Marcus Smith within five metres of the English line but the visitors are then penalised. What’s the call from Michael Hooper?
Australia 3-6 England, 30 minutes
Really lovely variation from Australia, that. Samu Kerevi has carried off first phase at virtually every set piece so far, and is given the ball soon after the scrum here, but instead of a hard charge produces a well-directed reverse kick back to the left that lands in open space behind the English backfield. It’s not far away from a 50:22. England’s lineout just ouside their own red zone.
Australia 3-6 England, 29 minutes
And Australia are dealing with England’s patterns well. There is a hint of space as Ellis Genge looks for a pull-back pass but he is hit with ideal timing, and a knock-on on the wide right will end the movement.
Australia 3-6 England, 28 minutes
We are nearly half-an-hour in to this contest and yet it still feels like both sides are very much feeling their way into this one. England are beginning to gain more consistent collision dominance but aside from that Tom Curry charge and wide pass are yet to make too many telling bursts.
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