lastgasp south africa break welsh hearts
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice
Last Updated : GMT 05:17:37
Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Last-gasp South Africa break Welsh hearts

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice

Emiratesvoice, emirates voice Last-gasp South Africa break Welsh hearts

Alun Wyn Jones (R)
Nelspruit - Arab Today

A converted late penalty try secured a last-gasp 31-30 victory for South Africa against Wales in  Nelspruit on Saturday, killing Welsh hopes of an historic win.
Wales led for most of the match, but two yellow cards late in the first half and a South African onslaught late in the second that culminated in a penalty try, proved too much for the visitors.
After a lacklustre first Test, Wales played with purpose as they tried to beat the 'Boks for the first time away.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland described the loss as "probably the worst" experience of his coaching career.
"I'm pretty gutted about it. I'm proud of the performance, the turnaround and how the guys fronted up ... but you play one of the top teams in the world and they keep going for 80 minutes."
He refused to blame a series of unfavourable  refereeing decisions that led to two penalty tries and two yellow cards for the loss.
South Africa captain Victor Matfield, who became the most capped Springbok Saturday in winning his 112th Test cap, praised his side as having the mark of world champions.
"It's just great how calm the guys stayed and the character they showed," Matfield said.
"I really believe if you want to win a World Cup you have to have character... and the guys showed it today, even until the last second."
With conditions perfect, both teams sought to pass the ball around in the opening stages, probing and prodding for openings in the opposition line.
Dan Biggar opened the scoring when the Springboks were pinged at the ruck, slotting home a penalty and putting Wales 3-0-up.
After Morne Steyn had missed a chance to bag three points for his side, Wales got the first try of the game.
Alex Cuthbert collected a crash ball, broke through the 'Boks's back line, offloading to Jamie Roberts who powered in to touch down under the posts.
With Wales's tails up and the 'Boks in disarray, Cuthbert crossed the line himself just moments later, with Biggar again making the conversion.
Wales were 17-0 ahead with around a quarter of the game gone.
But then the wheels came off.
Close to the half-hour mark they were reduced to 14 men, with Luke Charteris yellow-carded while rucking out on his own try line.
The Springbok pressure quickly told.
The home side were awarded a penalty try moments later which resulted in Wales being reduced to 13 men with Biggar joining Charteris in the sin bin.
The Springboks then took further advantage with a fluid, ranging, length-of-the-field try that was eventually run home by Cornal Hendricks, his first try for his country.
That left South Africa trailing 14-17 at half-time.
- Pressure phases -
Wales managed to weather the first minutes of the half and when back to 15 men looked a different proposition.
After putting the ball through pressure phases in the 'Boks's 22, Ken Owens opened the second half scoring with a drive over the line from meters out.
Biggar converted making it South Africa 14 Wales 24.
On 55 minutes, Steyn briefly cut the deficit by three points with a successful penalty, only to be matched seconds later by Biggar's own effort, which brought the score to 17-27.
It was then the Springboks's turn to be reduced to 14 men, when Flip van der Merwe was sin-binned for taking out Wyn Jones in the air.
Another penalty for Biggar on 65 minutes increased Wales's lead to 13 points.
With eight minutes to go, a try from in-form 'Boks full back Willie le Roux and Steyn's conversion put South Africa back within striking distance.
Then in the dying moments, Hendricks was ploughed into touch in a move that referee Steve Walsh judged to be a shoulder charge.
After consulting the TMO he awarded a penalty try which was converted by Steyn to give the 'Boks a one-point advantage.
Source: AFP

 

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

lastgasp south africa break welsh hearts lastgasp south africa break welsh hearts

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

lastgasp south africa break welsh hearts lastgasp south africa break welsh hearts

 



GMT 16:17 2018 Thursday ,30 August

Five Saudi women pilots granted GACA licences

GMT 10:31 2014 Tuesday ,23 December

Mirages of failure: Lebanon cannot wait

GMT 19:57 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Farm-fresh from Kerala to the UAE, in just one day

GMT 06:15 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Volkswagen clinches record sales

GMT 07:46 2015 Friday ,24 July

Why pendulums swing in harmony?

GMT 01:02 2016 Tuesday ,07 June

Won't play in Olympics

GMT 07:02 2017 Thursday ,06 July

UAE team ready for Asian Athletics Championship

GMT 12:27 2017 Wednesday ,06 September

Texas flood toll mounts as Harvey pummels Louisiana

GMT 07:16 2017 Monday ,25 December

New recall of Lactalis baby milk

GMT 17:15 2017 Thursday ,16 November

30 research papers for Shaikh Nasser Award

GMT 06:53 2015 Monday ,14 September

The Gulf States and Syrian refugees

GMT 09:06 2018 Monday ,01 January

China manufacturing activity slows in December

GMT 12:00 2017 Thursday ,17 August

Italian-American automaker Fiat Chrysler

GMT 14:02 2014 Monday ,24 November

Women not equal to men

GMT 08:47 2017 Saturday ,11 February

Argentina striker Lucas Pratto joins Sao Paulo

GMT 19:38 2017 Saturday ,06 May

Somali Speaker of Parliament meets UAE
 
 Emirates Voice Facebook,emirates voice facebook  Emirates Voice Twitter,emirates voice twitter Emirates Voice Rss,emirates voice rss  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube  Emirates Voice Youtube,emirates voice youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

emiratesvoieen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen emiratesvoiceen
emiratesvoice emiratesvoice emiratesvoice
emiratesvoice
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice, Emiratesvoice