The Springboks sent out a massive Rugby World Cup warning in Cardiff on Saturday, demolishing a young and inexperienced Wales side 52-16 in their biggest-ever win in Cardiff just weeks out from the defence of their World Cup title.
While the writing may have been on the wall ahead of the game with a number of big-name withdrawals from Wales, the Boks showed they aren’t the finished article just yet and have a number of issues to work on ahead of their opening World Cup game against Scotland on September 10.
Jake White famously coined in 2004 the line of “men against boys” when England demolished the Boks and it was hard to look past that statement for the difference between the two sides in Cardiff. This was the biggest win, eclipsing the 38-point win in 2004 in Cardiff and signalled that perhaps the hoodoo of Welsh teams over South Africa is over for a while.
But looking at the positives, the Boks will enter the World Cup with two packs that can demolish virtually any opposition in the setpieces, they have two lock combinations that can compete with the best in the world while there is a wealth of backline depth that can flummox defences almost at will.
KRIEL A MONSTER
The emergence of Jesse Kriel – who easily could have been man of the match ahead of Canan Moodie – out of the shadow of Lukhanyo Am is a massive bonus for the Boks, especially as Kriel not only was a monster in defence but his brace was a just reward for the hard work he put in, in the midfield.
Moodie continues to grow to the point that it is still difficult to believe that he is only 20. Back to back man of the match performances – and a brace of tries on the night – reminded us all that the selection process will be a very difficult one for the Bok management in the back three when the World Cup comes around.
It’s hard to find a lot of criticism in a record-breaking win with eight tries where the Boks were never in doubt, and there isn’t much. But in realising the Boks title defence will be in the pool of death against the No 1 team in the world, Ireland, as well as tricky opposition in Scotland and Tonga, these warm-up games are about exposing issues that can be fixed ahead of the tournament.
DISCIPLINE AND GOALKICKING A CONCERN
In this case the Boks would need to work on their discipline – conceding way too many penalties for their own liking, while their work under the aerial bombardment was poor by their own standards, and would give opposition teams a lot of hope.
That, as well as Damian Willemse’s yellow card – an awkward clash of heads that could easily have been a red card – and may still see intervention by the citing officer – were the negatives from a win that would have sent out more than a warning to the teams hoping to take the Webb Ellis trophy away from the Boks.
Manie Libbok’s goalkicking remains a worry – less so on a night where the Boks were so dominant, but it is hard to argue that it isn’t concern when the games get tighter and every point is at a premium. Libbok’s accuracy is not off by much, but inches count in test rugby and in that he will be disappointed in his own performance.
While it is hard to gauge too much from this game – it was clear from early on that this Welsh side would be outmuscled by the Green and Gold, in terms of momentum and confidence this was a good day at the office for the Boks.
KOLISI CAMEO WILL BUOY BOKS
The fact that both Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche got through the game without incident would have left a smile on the faces of many – especially the management – with both putting in massive games and Kolisi showing in 40 minutes of rugby that he is ready to lead his team in their title defence.
Make no mistake, that in itself is massive for the Boks as they look towards the tough road ahead.
Even though they were under pressure with penalties in the first half they struck the first big blow when a dominant maul saw a blindside attack that gave Kolisi an opportunity in the tramlines to surge forward and give the perfect offload to Malcolm Marx to score.
But two penalties to young Sam Costello saw Wales take the lead again – even though it was the last time in the game, as the Boks showed their width and versatility with a beauty of a try for Moodie – which started with RG Snyman snatching the ball from the ruck,and darting forward, then doing a one-two with Jaden Hendrikse before recycled ball was deftly sent wide under pressure by Libbok for Moodie to have an easy run in.
CONTROVERSIAL DECISION
The Boks then struck two quick blows that basically took the game away from the Welsh before halftime, even though the first was a tad controversial. Another Bok attack led to a kick pass to Moodie, who looked to have overrun the ball, with Rio Dyer knocking the ball deliberately into touch.
A dozen replays later and television match official Joy Neville could not find that Moodie’s hand touched the ball, and Dyer, who deliberately smacked the ball into touch received a yellow card, and Wales had a penalty try awarded against them.
Minutes later it was the quick thinking from an up and under that sent the ball wide to Damian de Allende, who punted the ball ahead into space with Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe motoring after it. While midfielder Mason Grady won the chase, in the tackle from Kolbe he inexplicably threw the ball in the air, allowing Kriel to grab it and get his first score.
After that 24-9 at the break, it seemed an uphill battle for Wales and it would only get worse.
After the break a promising Welsh attack, Kieran Hardy’s pass was intercepted by the Boks and saw Kriel scorch the defence as he ran more than 40 metres to score.
Du Toit scored after the Boks battered the Welsh line from close out to extend the score before another intercept – this time when Johnny Williams did a no-look pass into the hands of Moodie, who had a clear run to the posts.
Damian Willemse scored a late try and Sam Parry got a consolation for Wales but this was a day when it was men against boys. And the Boks were the ones to send out the warning that many other sides will heed this close to the tournament.
Scorers
Wales – Try: Sam Parry. Conversions: Cai Evans. Penalties: Sam Costello (3)
South Africa – tries: Malcolm Marx, Canan Moodie (2), Penalty try, Jessie Kriel (2), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian Willemse. Conversions: Manie Libbok (5)
© Brendan Nel / SuperSport