Wales gave it everything where every player played the game of their lives in a brutally physical contest which had the sell out crowd gripped throughout.
The Springboks got off to a flier when Frans Steyn scored in the corner in the early moments but Wales stood firm and fought their way back into the match. When No 8 Toby Faletau scored the odds of Wales winning just their second match against the southern hemisphere super powers shortened remarkably.
But the Springboks hit back through replacement winger Francois Hougaard and the Boks then kept Wales at bay to hold out for a narrow and nerve wracking victory.
Wales had a number of heroes in defeat. Jamie Roberts was back to his bustling best in midfield while Rhys Priestland pulled the strings expertly from fly half. Faletau, Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate were also outstanding in the engine room.
South Africa softened up the Welsh defence right from the kick-off. The Boks rumbled deep into Welsh territory and patiently went through the phases.
Eventually the backs got hold of the ball and Steyn powered through the tackles of Shane Williams and James Hook to dive over in the corner to give the defending world champions the perfect start. With Morne Steyn adding the extras in difficult conditions from the touchline, the Boks were leading 7-0 after four minutes.
Wales slowly found their feet with Hook banging over a penalty but seeing the wind blow another attempt off course.
Dan Lydiate was caught off-side to give Steyn a long shot at goal. Despite the blustery conditions the Boks fly half banged it over to give South Africa a 10-3 lead.
Wales found South Africa’s towering up and unders difficult to combat with both George North and Hook failing to take steepling kicks safely.
Schalk Burger was pinged for interfering at the breakdown. This time, Hook made no mistake to bring the score to 10-6.
The Boks, who had picked a huge size packed with 815 caps, began the game throwing the ball around but went back t their accustomed game plan of keeping it tight as the first half neared its conclusion.
But whatever the Boks threw at Wales, Sam Warburton and his men repelled the green tide. Confidence was visibly growing in the Welsh team. Even after time was up, Wales attacked through Mike Phillips to set up a long range drop goal for his halfback partner Priestland, but it sailed wide as referee Wayne Barnes blew up for halftime.
Warburton ripped the ball off John Smit in the opening move of the second half to give Wales the chance of putting the ball deep into South Africa territory. Shane Williams danced round JP Pietersen to go close to the line but Faletau knocked the ball on with the Springboks defence creaking.
Wales then played South Africa at their own game, going through the phases as the Welsh pack threw down the gauntlet to the juggernaut Boks unit. Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones and Faletau went toe to toe as Wales edged neared to the whitewash.
South Africa’s defence stood firm until Butch James was caught off-side. Hook knocked over the simple penalty to bring Wales within a point as the Boks appeared to become rattled.
Priestland’s increasing influence reached new heights when he off-loaded superbly to Faletau who dived over from close range to put Wales in front for the first time of the match. With Hook’s conversion the defending champions were reeling on the ropes.
But the Boks aren’t defending champions for no reason. The Boks upped their tempo, turning down a shot at goal and going for a seven pointer instead. The lineout was secured and the Boks went through the phases and attacked with venom. Wales repelled the first and second waves of attack, but they could do nothing when replacement winger Francois Hougaard dived under the posts. With Steyn’s conversion, South Africa had regained a slender one-point lead.
Wales heads refused to bow and again surged back into South African territory. Priestland fluffed a drop goal attempt but a slide-rule kick took Wales back inside the dangerzone where the Boks conceded a penalty. But Hook’s shot drifted wide.
In the dying minutes South Africa squeezed the life out of Wales, tucking the ball under their jumpers and refusing to give Wales a sniff of the ball.
The Boks bounced off the ropes to send Welsh hopes to the canvas but Wales have shown enough to suggest they could still play a major role in this tournament with a stirring display and they could pack a few punches of their own.
Wales: James Hook, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (captain), Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones (Bradley Davies), Luke Charteris, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Paul James.
Reserves: Ryan Bevington, Lloyd Burns, Andy Powell, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.
South Africa: Frans Steyn; JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, Jean De Villiers (Buth James), Bryan Habana (Francois Hougaard); Morné Steyn, Fourie Du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit (c) (Bismarck Du Plessis), Jannie Du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Pierre Spies
Replacements: Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Johan Muller, Willem Alberts,
