Wales held pointless again by seven-try South AfricaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Wales have not beaten South Africa since 2022ByGareth GriffithsBBC Sport Wales, AtHollywoodbets Kings Park, DurbanPublished18 July 2026, 18:42 BSTUpdated 21 minutes agoNations Championship round threeSouth Africa (19) 43Tries: Wiese, Reinach, Kriel, Williams, Jantjies, Arendse, de Villiers Cons: Moyo 3, LibbokWales (0) 0South Africa eased to a seven-try bonus-point victory against Wales in the third round of the Nations Championship in Durban.Number eight Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Cobus Reinach, centre Jessie Kriel, wings Jaco Williams and Kurt-Lee Arendse, scrum-half Herschel Jantjies and flanker Paul de Villiers scored the tries for the double world champions.The Springboks managed this comfortable success without star names like captain Siya Kolisi, Cheslin Kolbe, Ox Nche and Eben Etzebeth, who was one of seven locks missing.It was not as humiliating for Wales as the 73-0 record home loss to South Africa in Cardiff last November but the victory highlighted the gulf between the two nations.Steve Tandy’s side again failed to score as their attack looked limited with the aggregate score in the past two games between these sides standing at 116-0. It was an 11th successive win for South Africa as they cemented their position at the top of the world rankings, while Wales lie 12th.The Springboks are top of the northern hemisphere table at the halfway stage of the Nations Championship with three wins, following earlier victories against England and Scotland.After opening with a 39-21 win against Fiji, it was a second successive defeat for Wales following the 35-21 loss to Argentina in San Juan.Head coach Tandy has finished his first season in charge with nine defeats and three wins in 12 internationals with those victories coming against Italy, Fiji and Japan.Figure caption, Nations Championship highlights: South Africa 43-0 WalesWales suffer Adams late injury blow Wales captain Dewi Lake was passed fit despite limping off against the Pumas, but wing Josh Adams was a late withdrawal because of a calf problem with Ellis Mee taking his place.
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus continued to ring the changes as he again made 10 starting alterations.
With Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Handre Pollard injured and Mannie Libbok on the bench, Sharks fly-half Vusi Moyo, 20, became the youngest Springboks number 10 after being handed his first cap despite just one club start.
Moyo was among four new caps alongside Williams, Bordeaux prop Carlu Sadie and Montpellier lock Ruben van Heerdem.
Springboks started strongly with a fine break from full-back Aphelele Fassi continued by the home forwards.
It was finished off by a charging Wiese who took advantage of some ineffective Welsh tackling, a theme of this campaign. Moyo converted his first points in international rugby.
Tandy had changed his midfield with fly-half Dan Edwards replacing Sam Costelow and centres Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn coming in for Joe Hawkins and Eddie James.
After Wales’ scrum buckled early on, an ineffective attacking play involving Thomas resulted in Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx achieving a turnover penalty with rampaging lock Cobus Wiese almost crossing the Welsh line before knocking on.
The Welsh scrum was dismantled on their own line with Reinach sprinting over from the resulting Springboks set-piece.
There was a lull in the South Africa scoring as Wales battled to hang on and the hosts proved unusually wasteful in the tourists’ 22.
The visitors grew in confidence and returning flanker Alex Mann even briefly managed to get under the skin of the Springboks.
Home captain Pieter-Steph du Toit thought he had scored but referee Andrew Brace spotted obstruction but Wales continued to give away scrum penalties.
The persistent offending saw the tourists issued with a general warning about the ill-discipline, before Kriel scored just before half-time after gathering a speculative Moyo cross kick.
