WALES 12 SOUTH AFRICA 34
Colin Charvis became the most prolific scoring try-scoring forward in the game with his try on the stroke of half time but it was not enough as Wales fell foul of champions South Africa.
Charvis crashed over for his 22nd Test try to take him clear of Italian prop Carlo Checcinato and his score sparked a Welsh revival after a blitz of tries from the Springboks had left them on the ropes.
Morgan Stoddart celebrated his Test debut with a try early in the second period but tries from Jacques Fourie, JP Pieterson, Juan Smith and Ryan Kankowski saw the World Cup winners claim the Prince William Cup.
Wales showed signs of improvement after their group stage World Cup exit and had plenty of early ball. But in the end, Wales simply did not have the power to match the Boks and the performance will have given new coach Warren Gatland plenty of food for thought ahead of his arrival in the Principality.
South Africa, with nine of the team that lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy in Paris five weeks ago, flexed their muscles whenever Wales got too close and Kankowski’s score 13 minutes from time killed off any distant thoughts of a turnaround.
In charge for just one game, Nigel Davies had the freedom to be bold with his selection, and he was. Llanelli youngster Stoddart was thrown into the Cardiff cauldron against the world champions for his first international debut.
And it was a tough start for the 22-year-old who was swatted aside by giant Bok flanker Juan Smith for the game’s opening try on 20 minutes.
Wales threw the kitchen sink at the world champs for the opening quarter, played in smoke after the pre-match fireworks. But just as England in the World Cup final, they could not break the rock-solid green wall and it was South Africa who drew first blood with their first real chance.
Jannie Du Plessis drove the Boks forward before Andre Pretorious found Smith who thundered past Hook and Stoddart.
Wales wonderkid Hook suffered more agony before half-time. Play had to be stopped while he had a dislocated finger ‘popped’ back in. And there were more groans around the stadium when he fluffed the chance to get Wales on the board from in front of goal.
Instead, South Africa centre Fourie gave his hosts a harsh lesson in finishing with a quick-fire double in the space of three minutes. Francois Steyn and JP Pieterson tore the Welsh defence apart before skipper John Smit sent Fourie over out wide.
Moments later and the centre strolled in again with the pick of the bunch. Pieterson timed his run to perfection and steamed through the Welsh midfield before handing Fourie the easiest of finishes.
Wales were in serious trouble at 22-0 down and it was the new boy who produced something when his nation needed it most. Stoddart galloped down the wing before kicking ahead, Ruan Pienaar made a hash of clearing his lines and Charvis was on hand to crash over. The roar threatened to lift the roof off the Millennium Stadium and Wales finally had a glimmer of light.
That light grew when Albert Van den Berg was binned before Stoddart out-jumped Bryan Habana for Hook’s clever chip on 51 minutes.
Henson, Rhys Thomas, Shanklin and Sonny Parker all went close as Wales breathed fire – but a lapse in concentration at the back saw Kankowski put the wraps on the Boks win.
Wales 12 (5)
Tries: Charvis, Stoddart
Cons: Hook
South Africa 34 (22)
Tries: Smith, Fourie (2), Pietersen, Kankowski
Cons:Pretorius (3)
Pens: Steyn (1)
Wales: Morgan Stoddart; Mark Jones, Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Tom Shanklin; James Hook, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Huw Bennett, Rhys Thomas, Ian Evans, Alun Wyn Jones, Colin Charvis, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Jonathan Thomas
Replacements: T Rhys Thomas, Duncan Jones, Luke Charteris, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, Ceri Sweeney, Tom James.
South Africa: Ruan Pienaar; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Francois Steyn, Bryan Habana; Andre Pretorius, Ricky Januarie; CJ van der Linde, John Smit (capt), Jannie Du Plessis, Bakkies Botha, Johann Muller, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Ryan Kankowski
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Heinke van der Merwe, Albert van den Berg, Hilton Lobberts, Wynand Olivier, Conrad Jantjes, Akona Ndungane
