Welsh fade after dominant hour

South Africa 19 Wales 8

Wales, bloodied but unbowed, return to the Principality today with their pride and respect very much intact despite losing this Second Test against the Springboks at Newlands.

Having lost the first game in Bloemfontein eight days ago, there was a real attitude about this young Wales team as they took on a Springbok side for whom Newlands has been a fortress in recent times.

That they failed to secure only their third Test victory in 12 games was more the result of misfortune and a lack of belief than anything else.

They battled courageously, enjoyed the upper hand in nearly every phase of the game for an hour, and only lost out in the final quarter as South Africa saved their own bacon with 11 points in as many minutes.

It was more than most Welsh supporters had dared to expect when the young party arrived here, and one hopes it will act as a helping hand as the national game attempts to turn the corner in the coming months.

Against a Springbok side showing four predictable changes from the side that won 34-19 in Bloemfontein, Wales were not only combative in both the set pieces, where they dominated, and the loose, where they enjoyed parity, but they had the two best players on the field in Martyn Williams and the indomitable figure of their captain, Colin Charvis.

Wales trailed 8-3 at the interval, levelled the contest shortly after the break and had their chances to close off a match that was spoilt by incessant rainfall and some over-zealous play by the likes of the Springboks' veteran hooker James Dalton and tight-head prop Willie Meyer, who was yellow-carded in the first half for kicking at the Welsh hooker Robin McBryde.

Unfortunately, the game slipped away from Wales when the Springboks scored 11 points during the final quarter of an hour, including a late try from the replacement scrum-half, Craig Davidson.

Just as they had in Bloemfontein, Wales dominated for long spells in the first half, courtesy of a solid scrum, effective line-out and an ability to deal with the soapy ball better than their hosts.

That being the case, it was somewhat frustrating that they actually trailed at half-time. Stephen Jones and Andre Pretorius swapped penalties to leave the game locked at 3-3, but eight minutes into stoppage time, the full-back Brent Russell burst through a gap on the left and Wales were powerless to stop him from crossing.

On previous occasions, Wales would have folded. However, their new coach, Steve Hansen, has created a new spirit within the Welsh side and they stayed in touch and on top for long periods after the interval as well.

That being the case, it came as no great surprise when a concerted break from Rhys Williams and a clever kick- through from Gareth Llewellyn set up a position from which Charvis gathered and scored a try.

That was the signal for Wales to assert themselves, but they seemed to be bothered by the fact that they could actually win a contest that had turned a little sour in the first half, with captains Charvis and Bobby Skinstad told to calm their charges down after an almighty bust-up between the two front rows.

Pretorius slotted two penalties to wrestle back the lead and when Charvis attempted a clearance kick from behind his own line, Davidson charged it down and dropped on the loose ball to score the conclusive try. It was rough justice on Wales, but after coming to South Africa with little or no hope of even being competitive in the series, they still achieved much on the tour.

South Africa: B Russell; S Terblanche, M Jouber, D W Barry, B Paulse; A Pretorius, J Conradie (C Davidson, 51); D Human (O Le Roux, 60), J Dalton, W Meyer (F Rautenbaach, 50), J Labuschagne, Q Davids (H Luow, 62), C Krige, A J Venter (K van Niekirk, 62), B Skinstad (capt).

Wales: K Morgan; R Williams, M Taylor, A Marinos (T Shanklin, 67), C Morgan; S Jones (N Jenkins, 78), D Peel (R Powell, 14); I Thomas, R McBryde (M Davies, 79), B Evans, G Llewellyn (R Sidoli, 70), S Williams, M Owen, M Williams (G Thomas, 67), C Charvis (capt).

Referee: T Spreadbury (England).