Wales v South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction after Springboks condemn hosts to winless year

Wales slumped to a 12th successive Test match defeat and head coach Warren Gatland saw the pressure ramped up on him as world champions South Africa won 45-12 at the Principality Stadium.

For the first time since 1937, Wales went a whole calendar year without winning a Test, and many will feel that Gatland’s job is now hanging by a thread.

South Africa were not at their best, but the sad truth for Wales is that they did not have to be.

Warren Gatland has admitted that he is uncertain over his future as Wales head coach after his side suffered a 12th consecutive defeat and ended 2024 without a Test win.

Having already overseen the worst losing run in the nation’s history, Gatland is under severe pressure and his young team never looked likely to match South Africa.

While the hosts showed plenty of fight, the world champion Springboks emerged as comfortable 45-12 victors at the Principality Stadium to complete an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series.

“We’ll have to wait and see what happens over the next couple of days. The last few weeks have been challenging and tough. We question ourselves after each game. But that is no different. When you are losing you do that, but when you are on winning streaks you still ask yourself the same questions. I’ll go and chat with the powers that be, and talk to my family as well.

“The last couple of weeks have been challenging in terms of the negativity. You’ve got to assess what has happened. I’m motivated to want to be here and we’ve got a good group of men who are only going to get better. I do definitely want to be here, it is just about letting the dust settle and talking about if it is the best thing.

“I haven’t offered my resignation since the Italy game. The Six Nations is different. I was genuine about that. But you probably approach the autumn a little bit differently when you are looking to develop players.”

“It was a tough game, a really tough game. I can’t question how hard our players tried out there. They gave absolutely everything. They’ll learn massively from that game tonight. Hopefully they will be better for that the next time and the time after that. What the players put in, people should be really proud of that.

“I’m not contented with the result, we are disappointed. But I can’t question how hard the players tried. There need to be learnings that go with that. We know how clinical the world champions are and the power they can bring. That puts you under some pressure. For us, going away from this campaign, a few players are aware that there is some work to do from a conditioning perspective so they are in better shape when we come back for the next campaign.”

“They’re double world champions for a reason, but I think we showed a lot of heart and character in parts of that game,” the hooker says to TNT Sports.

“We’re probably just not there yet as a group. Discipline in some areas has cost us again - they’re a dangerous team when they’re rolling onto the ball.

“I can’t question the effort. I can’t question the effort. Of course we can [see light at the end of the tunnel]. We’ve got to keep the faith. The journey is just as important as the destination, sometimes.”

“We enjoy Wales. We knew they had their backs against the wall, and when a team is like that they get the best out of themselves. We knew it was going to be a tough game, so credit to Wales and our boys for pulling it through.

“Coach Rassie said at the start of the week that we are here to get better. We felt last week, our performance was a little bit individual, even in a great win against England. This week we focussed on playing as a team.

“As players, we always back the management. The way Rassie brings in the new guys is that nothing changes - we have a system, and if you fit in that system, we’ll always be a great group together.”

That’s that for Wales - they end the year without a Test win, predictably out-classed as the Springboks flexed their muscles. Some creditable performances from young Welshmen in there, with Jac Morgan tireless in the tackle, but the gulf in quality and physicality was clear throughout.

They can! A year of toil and torment ends with a Wales try, James Botham powering over. It matters not bar the final accounting, but Wales never quit - even if Ben Thomas’s conversion is the final kick of a winless 2024.

Wales may finish on the attack, though, granted a chance in the Springboks’ 22 by an errant crossfield kick. Can they give their long-suffering fans a final flourish after the toughest of years?