Pointless Wales humiliated by South Africa

Autumn international

Wales (0) 0

South Africa (28) 73

Tries: Steenkamp, Hooker, Wiese, van den Berg, Louw, Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 Moodie, Esterhuizen, Nortje, Etzebeth Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 9

World champions South Africa humiliated woeful Wales by inflicting a record home defeat on their hosts.

Fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 28 points as the Springboks demolished Steve Tandy's side with a dominant 11-try display.

There were further tries from props Gerhard Steenkamp and Wilco Louw, wings Ethan Hooker and Canan Moodie, number eight Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Morne van den Berg, centre Andre Esterhuizen and lock Ruan Nortje.

Replacement Eben Etzebeth also crossed before the lock was shown a 79th-minute red card for gouging Wales flanker Alex Mann.

Welsh rugby plumbed new depths at their own ground, eclipsing the 68-14 Six Nations defeat by England in March.

It was the second worst defeat in Wales' history behind the 96-13 hammering handed out by the Springboks in Pretoria in 1998.

It was the first time Wales have not scored a point in a home match since they lost 51-0 to France at a temporary Wembley base, also in 1998, while previously in 1967 Wales finished pointless in Cardiff when they lost to Ireland.

From the first whistle, this result was never in doubt. In a procession, the ruthless Springboks outmuscled their vastly inferior opponents with a devastating display.

Rugby Championship winners South Africa again finish the year as the world's best side after completing a second successive clean sweep of European tour victories following wins this month against Japan, France, Italy and Ireland.

With new head coach Steve Tandy in charge for the first time, Wales will reflect on an autumn series in which they have suffered convincing defeats against Argentina New Zealand and South Africa and a one-point win against Japan with a last-gasp Jarrod Evans penalty.

That win at least kept Wales in the top 12 in the world rankings before the draw for the 2027 World Cup is made next Wednesday.

But despite some positive attacking glimpses against Argentina and New Zealand, the embarrassment against South Africa shows Wales are light years behind the world's best as they suffered a 21st defeat in 23 Test matches. This loss was the most depressing.

More to follow.

Wales: Murray; Mee, Roberts, Hawkins, Dyer; Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Lake (capt), Assiratti, Carter, R Davies, Plumtree, Mann, Wainwright.

Replacements: Coghlan, Southworth, Coleman, Ratti, Morse, Morgan-Williams, Sheedy, B Thomas.

Sin-bin: Plumtree 43, Wainwright 53

South Africa: D Willemse; Hooker, De Allende, Esterhuizen, Moodie; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Van der Berg; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, Louw, Kleyn, Nortje, Kolisi (capt), Mostert, Wiese.

Replacements: Mbonambi, Porthen, Ntlabakanye, Etzebeth, Van Staden, Dixon, Smith, Reinach.

Red card: Etzebeth

Referee: Luc Ramos (France)

Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Pierre Brousset (France)

TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)

FPRO: Andrew Jackson (England).