Wales Versus South Africa 2007

Wales Vs South Africa Live Commentary

Wales Starting Line up.

1. Gethin Jenkins
2. Huw Bennet
3. Rhys Thomas
4. Alun Wyn Jones
5. Ian Evans
6. Colin Charvis
7. Robin Sowden-Taylor
8. Jonathan Thomas
9. Dwayne Peel
10. James Hook
11. Tom Shanklin
12. Gavin Henson
13. Sonny Parker
14. Mark Jones
15. Morgan Stoddart

South Africa Starting Line up

1. CJ van der Linde.

2.John Smit (captain)

3. Jannie Du Plessis

4. Bakkies Botha

5. Johann Muller

6. Schalk Burger

7. Juan Smith

8. Ryan Kankowski

9. Ricky Januarie

10. Andre Pretorius

11. Bryan Habana

12. Francois Steyn

13. Jaque Fourie

14. JP Pietersen

15. Ruan Pienaar

Both captains line up before kick off, with some other bloke in the middle...

This is South Africa's first run out since their magnificent World Cup triumph in Paris last month.

The South African national anthem is sung with as much passion as the most powerful Mariah Carey Ballad. Very moving stuff.

The Welsh National anthem is also sung with great pride and passion. It's also a massive relief to see they have ditched the skin tight Kappa team strip and gone for a classic Reebok outfit. The Kappa kit was good for slick handsome Italians, but for overweight Cauliflower headed Welshmen, not so much.

With all the talk of 'new dawns' for Welsh Rugby after a disappointing World Cup, this couldn't be a tougher game to start with.

Kick off: 16.45

2 minutes: Wales look to get in and about the South African's early on. They may not be favourites, but you never get an easy ride in Cardiff.

4 minutes: High tackle from Jonathan Thomas, as South Africa look to threaten.

Francois Steyn steps up for the first kick at goal. Fabulous kick, and South Africa take the lead.

Wales 0-3 South Africa

6 minutes: Wales first proper attacking platform with a line out set piece. Momentum is lost momentarily for Wales but Henson threatens. The attack breaks down and the referee signals a scrum.

7 minutes: Good counter attack by the World champions. Wales prevent the opportunity with some good defending from Colin Charvis, on what is his 94th cap.

9 minutes: The Cardiff crowd continue to get excited whenever the Welsh manage to string a couple of passes together, but end up disappointed as the South African's break up all the attacks. You can see why they are regarded as the best defenders in the world.

10 minutes: Another wasted opportunity for Wales. South Africa awarded possession. It never stops amazing me how little dissent the referee gets from these Rugby players, who look like aggressive angry monsters, but are really, sensitive caring sweethearts with a lot of feelings.

12 minutes: Welsh line out leads to a foul by South Africa. Hook launches a 45 metre kick for the Welsh side, who have equipped themselves fairly well so far against the World Champions.

14 minutes: Good break by James Hook. Francois Steyn clears but Wales come back again piling on the pressure.

16 minutes: Scrum down for Wales in a good position after good work from Gavin Henson.

18 minutes: Wales continue to apply pressure. Hook chases a Henson kick. He seems to have an injury to his finger. It's look away now time as Hook has his finger repositioned by the medic. This is certainly not a game for the faint hearted.

19 minutes: Wales not allowing South Africa to get into the game at this moment. They are edging ahead on the possession. Line out for South Africa in a dangerous position.

20 minutes: TRY!! JUAN SMITH, SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa score the first try of the match in their first real attack of the game. Smith is the man to take the ball over the line. Andre Pretorius the man with the conversion. Wales 0 - 10 South Africa

22 minutes: It's very important Wales score next having had most of the possession and terretorial play, they find themselves Ten down. Wales are awarded with a penalty, and the chance to go for their first points of the game. Adjudged to have been a swinging arm on James Hook.

24 minutes: WALES 0-10 SOUTH AFRICA: Cardiff groans as Hook puts what should have been a simple kick wide. Really disappointing effort from Hook.

27 minutes: TRY!! JAQUE FOURIE, SOUTH AFRICA. Wales run out of numbers, good hands by Smit, and Fouris is on hand for a simple try. Pretorius misses his kick, just from a wide position. WALES 0 - 15 SOUTH AFRICA.

29 minutes: The World Champions beginning to dominate now as Jones concedes a penalty. Wales look shell shocked. South Africa's two real attacks have both led to tries.

30 minutes: TRY!! JAQUE FOURIE, SOUTH AFRICA. Make that three attacks have led to tries... Fourie grabs his second try in 2 minutes. It's all too easy for South Africa as Fourie bursts through for a simple try. Pretorius smashes home the kick. WALES 0 - 22 SOUTH AFRICA.

33 minutes: Wales look to push on, but South Africa, regarded as the best tackling side on the planet are patient and see them off. The World Champions are looking very very comfortable.

34 minutes: Line out for Wales. Can they get something on the board before half time? Hook dinks a ball towards Bennet. Offside against South Africa.

36 minutes: Another Line out for Wales ends in disappointment. Can they make the most of this next one?

No...

38 minutes: Good defending from Burger. South Africa don't want to concede before half time.

39 minutes: Turnover ball for Wales, this will be their last chance of attack before half time.

TRY!! CHARVIS, WALES. Rhys Thomas's pass causes confusion in the South Africa defence. Good supporting play from Wales and Charvis bundles the ball over the line. Hook misses another kick to the disappointment of the Welsh fans. WALES 5 -22 SOUTH AFRICA.

HALF TIME: WALES 5 - 22 SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa go in at half time with a commanding lead. There is no doubt which of these two teams are World Champions. But a try for Wales will give them confidence for the second half. If Wales can stamp out these simple errors, a comeback could be on.

Jaque Fourie goes over the line

for South Africa's second try.

SECOND HALF.

41 minutes: South Africa get the second half going, firmly in control. Early line out for the World Champions. Scott Burger comes away with the ball, as South Africa look to continue where they left off in the first half. The Cardiff crowd seem subdued.

43 minutes: Wales look to pick things up at the start of the second half. Charvis drops the ball in a decent position unfortunately for the home side.

45 minutes: TRY!! JP PIERTESEN, SOUTH AFRICA. All too easy for South Africa as a bit of magic from Captain Smit leads to Piertesen recieving the ball and having a comfortable try. Pretorius converts his kick again, and Wales's promising start to the second half is over. WALES 3 - 29 SOUTH AFRICA

Piertesen converts another try for the World Champions.

47 minutes: Wales looking to bounce back here. Parker drives the home side forward. Yellow card from the referee to Van Der Berg. South Africa a man down here. Big chance for Wales.

49 minutes: Opportunity lost for Wales after a poor scrum. South Africa clear with Steyn.

50 minutes: Driving run from Stoddart. Wales trying to drive forward and get some more points on the board. South Africa showing why they are World Champions with some brilliant defending.

51 minutes: TRY!! MORGAN STODDART, WALES. The home sides pressure pays off, with the aid of the man advantage. Stoddart climbs highest to catch the kick from Hook and bundle the ball over the line. JAMES HOOK finally finds his kicking boots and converts his kick. So far its as if he has been playing with Toblerone bars on his feet. Wales into double figures and Cardiff comes back to life. WALES 12 - 29 SOUTH AFRICA

54 minutes: South Africa have another 4 minutes to play with just 14 players, as Van Der Berg sits in the sin bin, like a naughty child told to sit on the naughty step.

A little bit of afters between Phillips and Van Der Linde. The referee intervenes to calm things down. Spoilsport...

56 minutes: Pretorius with a hurried kick down field for South Africa. Wales give possession back to the visitors. A little bit of an edge has crept into the game now, with Phillips and Van Der Linde part two. Phillips feels aggrieved to have been denied what looked a clear cut penalty.

60 minutes: South Africa make a change, Olivier is the man coming on for Pretorius. Charvis, is replaced by Popham for Wales.

62 minutes: A rare moment in a Rugby match... It's all a bit scrappy...

64 minutes: Chance for a try for Wales wasted, the ball was worked wide well to Stoddart, who lost his footing at the worst possible moment. South Africa defend well once again.

66 minutes: Henson and Wales seeing plenty of the ball, but unable to penetrate the South African's defense seriously at any point. It's been a master class in defending from the World Champions. Not to mention they have made the most of every opportunity they have had. Ruthless.

68 minutes: TRY!! KANKOWSKI, SOUTH AFRICA: Surely game over now as Kankowiski ends another brilliant South Africa break with a simple debut try. The kick is wide, but South Africa are comfortable and won't be bothered. WALES 12-34 SOUTH AFRICA.

72 minutes: Another chance goes begging for Wales. They just haven't got it right from the line outs today.

South Africa seeing the game out casually. Time for the cigars you feel here in Cardiff.

75 minutes: Wales continue to press, 13 players within 10 metres of the line. The ball goes loose again, and Cardiff groans once more. Hook is replaced by Sweeney. It's been an up and down day for Hook. Mainly down though...

76 minutes: Parker makes an encouraging run down the right. A ball back inside for Henson sees South Africa defend superbly once more, and Wales are left frustrated.

77 minutes: Du Plessis becomes the second South African player to be shown the yellow card for infringing on a ruck. Off to the sin bin young man.

79 minutes: Wales offside. This is going to be a fitting send off for coach Jake White in what will be his last full international as South Africa coach. What better way to finish then with a comprehensive victory.

FULL TIME: WALES 12 - 34 SOUTH AFRICA.

Jake White goes out with a bang, as the World Champions pick up from where they left off in Paris last month. Disappointment for Wales, who worked very hard. Incoming coach Warren Gatland will have seen some positive signs from the side he hopes to mould into a powerful force on the world stage. But a comfortable victory for South Africa, and a perfect send off for Jake White.

"Today has been a celebration of what Jake White has done for us in our lives."

SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN JOHN SMIT SUMS UP SOUTH AFRICA'S DAY.

Francois Steyn, has a joke with coach

Jake White after his last game in charge.