Wales 12-45 South Africa: Seven-try Springboks pile pressure on Warren Gatland as Wales end 2024 winless

The consecutive world champions scored seven times in a dominant performance against a Wales team in turmoil. Inquiries regarding the embattled Warren Gatland’s future persist as South Africa inflicted a record 12th consecutive Test match defeat on their hosts, extending back to October 2023. Rio Dyer and James Botham scored Wales’ two tries during a difficult evening at the Principality Stadium.South Africa scored over seven tries in a 12-45 rout of Wales, concluding the Autumn Nations Series with an unblemished record as World Cup champions.
Tries by Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Elrigh Louw, Aphelele Fassi, Gerhard Steenekamp, and Jordan Hendrikse resulted in a 33-point victory for the Springboks.Etzebeth has the potential to be named World Player of the Year, but he was substituted after 29 minutes, prior to Anderson scoring a third try.
The initial three tries resulted from rapid passing, but the Springboks demonstrated their strength with a fourth as Louw powered through.

Wales executed few incursions inside their opponents’ 22-metre line, eliciting cheers from the Principality Stadium as Rio Dyer registered their initial points just before halftime.
South Africa implemented numerous alterations following the intermission, nevertheless increased their score with astute maneuvers, culminating in Fassi and Steenekamp contributing a fifth and sixth try, respectively.
Springbok number ten Hendrikse concluded his team’s scoring with a seventh try as the visitors depart the Northern Hemisphere unbeaten.
Wales had the ultimate authority and were compensated for their exertion when James Botham scored the team’s second try one minute prior to full-time.
Wales receives a sobering assessment from the double world champions.
The Welsh Rugby Union will need to evaluate its performance after a series of losses in the Autumn Nations Series, culminating in an undesirable record of 12 consecutive defeats.
The Springboks have introduced new talent this season, yet possess seasoned veterans inside their roster for guidance and integration.
Simultaneously, Warren Gatland’s team is predominantly rejuvenated, with Dyer being their most seasoned player, possessing 23 caps on Saturday, highlighting the significant absence of Adam Beard.
Regardless of Gatland’s continued leadership of Wales, the team requires significant development before they can contemplate contending with the world’s elite.
Player of the Match – Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa)
The Springboks winger was instrumental in the visitors’ attack, which was at times indefensible.
The South African backs demonstrated their destructive capabilities with the ball in hand when attacking with Fassi and Hendrikse.
The Springboks may have achieved additional tries had they maintained their persistent pressure in the second half.
Nevertheless, the tempo diminished with the alterations, yet Arendse consistently posed a threat.The Springboks asserted their dominance from the off, launching several attacks that culminated in tries by Mostert and Etzebeth.