It may have been too little, too late for a Welsh side that conceded five tries, but it meant there was only a three point gap in the second half after the Springboks had won the first 40 minutes 28-9.
Wales got off to a flying start as outside half Dan Biggar kicked them ahead with a third minute drop goal and they managed to move the ball wide to danger wings Alex Cuthbert and George North in the opening exchanges.
At the other end of the field Wales managed to repel the first raid from the Springboks, but there was no stopping Bryan Habana when he raced on to a great chip ahead by full back Willie le Roux to notch the first of three four half tries.
Morne Steyn added the near touchline conversion and Welsh woes continued when Jamie Roberts was sent to the sin-bin after 13 minutes for taking out le Roux in the air with a clumsy tackle after a Biggar up and under from a penalty.
While the Racing Metro 92 centre was of the field the Boks added two more tries as they extended their lead to 21-6. No 8 Duane Vermulen crashed over from close range in the 16th minute after a dynamic line-out peel five metres out.
Steyn added the extras and did the same when Habana responded immediately to Biggar’s second drop goal of the game midway through the first half. The magnificent le Roux spotted a miss match in midfield against Aaron Shingler to create the overlap for his wing who raced over for his 55th test touchdown.
That man le Roux turned from provider to scorer just before the break as he chipped over the Welsh defensive line before regathering a riding George North’s tackle to reach the line. Steyn added a fourth conversion.
Biggar ensured he had the first and last word of the half as he kicked a penalty to cut the gap to 19 points at the break after Bismarck du Plessis had been penalised.
The gap was widened at the start of the second half when Steyn kicked a penalty and then he added a fifth conversion to a debut try for right wing Cornal Hendricks.
With 20 minutes to still left it looked as though the scoreline could grow even more, but some shrewd changes off the bench, with the introduction of Gareth Davies at scrum half and Matthew Morgan at full back crucial in an increase in tempo, saw Wales enjoy their best period.
A brilliant break by Davies from a line-out on half-way almost led to a try. He passed inside to Dan Biggar who, in turn, passed by to Davies when he was brought down five metres out.
Davies reached the line to score, but French referee Romain Poite called him back for a forward pass. But Wales did get a try before the end when Cuthbert weaved his magic, and his way past five Springboks defenders, on a thrilling 70 metre solo run.
James Hook added the conversion and Wales will be looking for more of their second half sprit in the second Test next weekend.
