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:
No try! New Zealand 35-12 Ireland, 58 minutes
It isn’t! Referee and TMO are in agreement that the tackle is just on the shoulder and not, therefore, high. No try, no penalty try, and indeed no penalty for that incident.
Ireland did have an earlier offside to return to. Dan Sheehan puts ball on floor, tapping with his boot and asking his forwards to come with him for another batter on the New Zealand door...
Try? New Zealand 35-12 Ireland, 58 minutes
It appears Carbery may just have lost his grip of the ball as he reaches for the line. It’s close, but there appears to be separation.
Now, on to Rieko Ioane’s tackle. Is it high?
Try? New Zealand 35-12 Ireland, 58 minutes
Can Ireland punch over? Again their continutity is good as forwards and backs use the ball comfortably. Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong combine nicely.
Now then - has Joey Carbery got that down? Has a high tackle prevented him? Karl Dickson has called for a consultation with Marius van der Westhuizen...
New Zealand 35-12 Ireland, 56 minutes
Samisoni Taukei’aho has replaced Codie Taylor in the New Zealand front row, and Angus Ta’avao is on, too, on the tighthead.
Sevu Reece nearly snares another intercept score, but can’t collect his flick up. Penalty to Ireland for a deliberate knock-on.
Irish changes now, too - Bundee Aki for Keith Earls (Garry Ringrose will occupy the right wing) and Jack Conan for Caelan Doris. Dan Sheehan hits his lineout jumper inside the New Zealand 22.
TRY! NEW ZEALAND 35-12 Ireland (Ardie Savea try, 54 minutes)
A thing of beauty from Ardie Savea! His first score was opportunistic, this is outstanding, collecting a miss ball in the 13 channel and showing his dynamite feet, skipping to the outside of Garry Ringrose.
Robbie Henshaw is next to have a go at ending Savea’s charge, but falls from his pumping piston limbs, and Keith Earls cannot halt his progress, either. Savea has two, New Zealand have five and the lead is restored to 23 by Jordie Barrett’s clean kick.
New Zealand 28-12 Ireland, 52 minutes
Relief for Ireland - New Zealand have a nudge on but only due to an early shunt before Aaron Smith had fed the ball in. Joey Carbery punts for the safe embrace of the touchline. Only a free kick, so still New Zealand’s ball.
New Zealand 28-12 Ireland, 51 minutes
Penalty to New Zealand as Andrew Porter is deemed to have gone down. More of the same, say the burly-men, again binding to one another for a second scrum.
New Zealand 28-12 Ireland, 49 minutes
Dan Sheehan is offside in midfield. Another New Zealand penalty.
James Ryan receives some treatment as the All Blacks make their minds up over what to do with it. Peter O’Mahony, who has taken over the captaincy from Johnny Sexton, it appears, has a word with Karl Dickson about the legality of New Zealand’s ruck clearouts, but othing requires a further look.
Eventually, New Zealand signal for a scrum. Six metres or so out, directly in front of the crossbar. Purring with possibilities.
New Zealand 28-12 Ireland, 47 minutes
Delicious handling from Aaron Smith, flicking blindly out the back door to Leicester Fainga’anuku. Sam Whitelock wins the next collision and Peter O’Mahony then has a second dig at the ruck having tumbled off his feet when first contesting. Penalty New Zealand - and into the Irish 22 they saunter for a lineout.
New Zealand 28-12 Ireland, 46 minutes
New Zealand are again penalised soon after the restart. That’s three in six second-half minutes against the All Blacks - not how Ian Foster would have wanted his side to resume.
Ireland make a mess of their lineout, though, and Codie Taylor sniffs out the morsels on the floor to grant New Zealand attacking ball on halfway.
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